I was struck by ancient Brixia (Brescia)!

Dear friends of this wonderful community

In my post from yesterday, I had told you about my adventure during the FAI Autumn Days in Brescia. And I must confess that, just as I had anticipated, I was completely captivated by this city. However, among all the wonders I had the privilege to admire, nothing captured my heart more than the Roman area of Brescia. It's a place that transports the mind and spirit directly to ancient Brixia, the Roman name for this city. For a moment, it almost feels like you're no longer in Brescia but in the heart of ancient Rome. In fact, these archaeological remains represent one of the most fascinating treasures of all of northern Italy, at least in my opinion.

This archaeological park was honored with the prestigious title of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, along with the magnificent monastic complex of Santa Giulia, located nearby. Unfortunately, I didn't have the opportunity to visit this second place, but word has it that it offers an equally fascinating experience. They often organize exhibitions and special events inside this site.

Within this archaeological park, you can explore the Capitolium, a temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, as well as the Roman theater. These sites can be visited freely, without having to purchase an entrance ticket. Nearby, there is also a museum that houses the famous bronze statue of the Winged Victory, a symbol of Roman victories, but you need a ticket to enter this one. There's a kind of UNESCO ticket that includes a special price for multiple archaeological sites.

Honestly, I would have expected this extraordinary area to be ticketed, considering that in Italy, it's rare to find points of interest accessible for free. However, it's only right that at least the outdoor part is open to everyone. I took some photos near these majestic columns, and I must admit that the emotion was palpable. These places concentrate centuries of history, and the Roman theater, even though much of it has collapsed over time, is still subject to constant recovery efforts, as I could see from the informative boards displayed, and it's still an impressive theater.

As I will show you in my next post, we will explore the underground of the First Palace that I visited with FAI in Brescia. From that place, you can understand that in every corner of these cities, you can come across Roman remains. I still wonder how we managed to build the subway. And this is really an extraordinary discovery. Even walking through the streets of Brescia, you can see how some buildings, built even in the 19th century, have been embellished and restored with stones from Roman buildings.

In the end, I can say that this part of Brescia is truly impressive. It's like taking a trip back in time, an experience that evokes the atmosphere of ancient Rome or even Athens. This makes me reflect on how many artistic treasures Italy still has to reveal, and I hope the number of 58 UNESCO sites in the country can still grow.

I heartily thank you for reading my post, and I can't wait to share the next adventures with you. See you soon!