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Brescia - Loggia
Steeped in a unique landscape where nature is at it most verdant, the province of Brescia is a land of scenic beauty enshrining a host of locations of archeological, artistic and historical interest.
It lies between the Po Valley, the pre-Alpine mountains and the Trompia Valley.
The largest province in Lombardy, it includes three beautiful lakes (Garda, Iseo and Idro) and three valleys (Camonica, Trompia and Sabbia). The landscape is varied, from the small marinas of Lake Garda and the green hills of Franciacorta to the ski slopes, small villages and historical town centres, not to mention the remains of ancient Camuni settlements. Long before the Gauls, in fact, in pre-historic times, the land was inhabited by a Ligurian people, the Camuni, who left behind the richest collection of expressive forms before the invention of writing in Valcaminica and Capo di Ponte The entire area has been declared a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO.
Brescia is regarded as one of the most ancient and beautiful cities in Italy, its urban and architectural heritage manifest in its main squares: Piazza del Foro, Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Loggia and Piazza della Vittoria. It also boasts monuments such as the Tempio Capitolino, the Complesso di Santa Giulia, the Duomo Vecchio and the Duomo Nuovo, the Broletto, the Loggia, the Castello and the Teatro Grande.
There are also many archaeological museums that house relics from the Bronze Age and subsequent eras. Not to be missed are the museums of Boario Terme, Valle Sabbia, Gottolengo and Sermione, a lovely place famed as a spa, which lies on a slender peninsula in Lake Garda. Desenzano boasts a typical old marina and a sixteenth century Duomo.The fortification of Borgo San Giacomo is worth a visit, as are another eight castles: Farfengo, Padernello, Motella, Acqualagna, Villagana and Villachiara.
The ancient Basilica of Verolanuova and the Romanesque church of San Patrizio are also of great historical interest. The Lakes of Garda, Iseo and Idro offer views that over the years have inspired so many poets such as Catullus, Dante, Joyce and Gabriele D’Annunzio. The latter once lived at the Vittoriale degli Italiani at Gardone, the estate the poet built and donated to the Italian people before his death.
Lovers of nature will enjoy an excursion to Val Camonica aboard a small train that snakes through its medieval villages and the Val Trompia, in the shadow of unspoiled mountains. . This is an ideal location for sports lovers and for those who simply wish to relax at the spa resorts of Boario, Sirmione, Gardone Riviera, Limone sul Garda and Ebrusco.
The mountains, with the perennial snows of the Passo Del Tonale, form a natural amphitheatre at the border between Lombardy and Trentino and offer the chance to ski all year around, with pistes and modern ski lifts.
Many routes can be followed by bicycle in Valdimonica, including the Stelvio and Adamello Parks where is the also the option for trekking and winter sports.
An ideal weekend is to follow the wine-trail. Franciacorta can be discovered by car, bike or motorbike, exploring its multicoloured scenery, hilly country that stretches from Brescia to Lake Iseo. There are ancient abbeys, palaces, castles, monuments, villas and prestigious wineries where you learn how the world renowned sparkling wine of Franciacorta is made. Other wine routes cover the wines of Garda and of the Colli Longobardi.
Lake Iseo, which boasts the largest lake island in Europe, Monte Isola, offers sports such as paragliding and sailing.
Finally, automobile enthusiasts should not miss Brescia’s ‘Millemiglia’, a parade of the world’s finest vintage cars.
The cuisine is both traditional and modern at the same time and varies depending on the location. The area surrounding the lakes is famous for its fish dishes, cooked in every imaginable way. In the mountains, there are pasta dishes made with aromatic herbs and different types of cheese, like the tasty Bagoss. In the area south of Brescia, where animal rearing and hunting are traditional, the sausages and game are excellent.
The mild climate on the banks of Lakes Garda and Iseo is ideal for olive cultivation and among the typical products of Lombardy is olive oil. The extra virgin olive oil produced around Lake Garda has an exceptional taste and aroma, which is confirmed by the award of the DOP classification by the EU.
The typical dish of Valcamonica is lamb sausage, chopped lean meat mixed with skimmed broth of sheep bones. Another Val Comonica product is the stinù, local salami cooked on charcoal, a hot plate or even boiled. Finally, there’s stuffed pigeon cooked in accordance with Brescian tradition that should be accompanied by a wine like the Valcalepio red. Among the cheeses are Stilter from the pre-Alpine areas and Casolet Dell’Amadello and the sweet-flavoured Formagele from Lake Iseo.
And finally… the wine. Enthusiasts must try Franciacorta. Among the DOC wines are Botticino, Capriano del Colle, Trebbiano e Rosso and Cellatica. Lake Garda DOC wines include San Martino Della Battaglia and Lugana, as well as the classical reds and whites.
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