MUSEO DI SANTA GIULIA
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Museum located in a former monastery of Benedictine nuns in Brescia.
This museum is worth a visit both for the beauty and rarity of its collections and for its setting. Located in a former monastery of Benedictine nuns, founded by the last king of the Lombards Desiderio and his wife Ansa, legend has it that their daughter Ermengarda, the repudiated wife of Charlemagne, is buried here. More than 12,000 archaeological finds and works of art are on display over 14,000square metres. The complex, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011, has been extended by several religious buildings.
The visit begins with the Romanesque oratory of Santa Maria in Solario, which houses the Cross of Desiderio (late 8th century), encrusted with cameos and gems, and the lipsanoteca, a 4th century carved ivory reliquary, two unique pieces.
The visit continues to the section dedicated to the Roman Brixia. Masterpieces of the collection: the bronze statue of the Winged Victory (1st century) and six gilded portraits of men from the imperial period. The visit continues with a walk through the archaeological site of the Domus dell'Ortaglia, whose mosaic pavement is perfectly preserved. From here you can access the Viridarium, a garden reconstructed as it was in Roman times.
From here you can go to the Coro delle Monache, a sumptuous Renaissance-style place of worship entirely decorated with frescoes. Here is another must-see piece, the Mausoleo Martinengo, a 16th century funeral monument. The visit ends with the Lombard basilica of San Salvatore (8th century) with its finely sculpted capitals.
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