Eve

nts
B r e s c i a : all of I t aly in one cit y.

Regione Lombardia
Turismo
 Eve
This guide will illustrate the
wide array of events

offered in the province of Brescia, with its

abundance of culture, history, and scenic
nts
B r e s c i a : all of I t aly in one cit y.

attractions.
The purpose of the guide is to introduce the
visitor to the exciting calendar of events that
marks the seasons in Brescia.

Alessio Merigo
President, Bresciatourism
Brescia is strategically located a short distance from Milan and
Venice and at the intersection of the great European corridors
connecting France to Austria (from west to east) and Germany and
Central Europe to Rome (from north to south).

BY CAR:
From Torino and Milan, highway
A4, Brescia Centro exit. Alternate
route: from Torino, highway A21.
From Venice or Verona, highway
A4 in the direction of Milan, Brescia
Centro exit.
From Bologna, Florence or Rome,
highway A1 to Modena, highway
A22 to Verona, highway A4 to
Brescia Centro.
From Genoa and Liguria, highway
A7 to Tortona, highway A21 to
Brescia.
www.autobrennero.it
www.autostrade.it
BY AIR: BY TRAIN:
Verona - Villafranca Brennero-Modena Line
Valerio Catullo Airport (50 km) Milan-Venice Line
www.aeroportoverona.it
Montichiari (Province of Brescia) www.trenitalia.it
Gabriele D’Annunzio Airport (15 km)
wwww.aeroportobrescia.it
Bergamo, Orio al Serio Airport (80 km)
www.sacbo.it
Milan, Linate and Malpensa Airports
(100 km)
www.sea-aeroportimilano.it
Venice, Marco Polo Airport (100 km)
 Easy to reach Brescia is a halfway point in a circuit of cities of art such as Verona,
Trento, Bergamo, Milan, Mantua and Cremona. Brescia and its lakes
by highway, are, therefore, the perfect jumping-off spot for visiting these cities,
rail or air shopping or going to concerts.
Its geographic location and scenery, along with its historic, artistic and
cultural treasures, food and wine, and events and facilities, make the
Province of Brescia a perfect tourist destination.

Monaco
di Baviera

MALPENSA ORIO

Bergamo Venezia
Torino
Milano Brescia
Verona
MONTICHIARI
LINATE

Cremona Mantova

Bologna
Modena
Roma
 Brescia,
not-to-be-missed
events

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 A city like Brescia, blessed
with natural beauty, cultural
activities and a long history, an
extraordinary international city
of art, must of course offer a
full calendar of events worthy
of its greatness.
The ancient Romans were the first to understand the importance of
entertainment. The Roman Theatre, built during the Flavian dynasty,
and imposing in size (a diameter of 86 metres and a 48-metre stage),
is located in the centre of the city’s monument area, beside the
Capitoline Roman Temple and a few metres from the Santa Giulia
Museum.
It is one of many delightful discoveries that Brescia offers its visitors.
The theatre will be even more impressive when restoration has been
completed and the dream of attending performances there, as in
the past, with an audience of 15,000, is realized. Today the tradition
continues and numerous large events take place in Brescia and the
province that will charm the public and appeal to every interest.
Many art events complement the already rich array of museums and
cultural centres: the cycle of exhibits of the masters of modern and
contemporary painting titled “The Splendour of Art,” the International
Biennial of Photography, and the artistic fusion of the International
Contemporary Circus Festival.
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 The evocative exhibit space at the Santa Giulia
Museum will house a series of shows titled

“Brescia.The splendour
of art”

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It is not hard to understand why this title was chosen. The first cycle began in 2003, with an
exceptional exhibit of the work of Claude Monet, featuring paintings from the world’s great
museums (the 11th most well attended show in the world). The next year focused on Paul
Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh and Millet’s “adventure of new colour” (4th best attended show in
the world). The cycle continued with Turner and Mondrian and will proceed, showcasing the
greatest painters in the world.

With these offerings, which draw

thousands of visitors to the city,
Brescia has firmly established
itself as one of Europe’s great
art cities.

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 The Millemiglia

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They call it the “most beautiful
race in the world,” for the
charming route it takes, but
above all because of the stars
of the show.
They are classic cars built between 1927 and
1957, true works of art on four wheels that
parade by to be admired as the sound of the
motors and the acrid smell of exhaust leave
spectators speechless. From 1927 to 1957
the Mille Miglia was the world automobile
championship race. Now it is an endurance
test that retraces the same course: from
Brescia to Rome and back, passing through
the cities of Ferrara, Ravenna, Bologna,
Urbino and Florence. In the month of May
Brescia festively welcomes 300 crews from
around the world. Thousands of onlookers
and enthusiasts assemble at the race check-
in point in Piazza Vittoria to take pictures of
the automobiles and the celebrities from the
entertainment and sports world competing in
the thrilling contest.
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The race begins on Thursday
from Porta Venezia in the historic
centre of Brescia and heads in
the direction of Verona, arriving
at night in the city of Ferrara.
There is a museum
dedicated to the history
of the Mille Miglia,
where it is possible to
admire mementos and
unique articles that have
made this exceptional
race world famous. The
museum is a meeting
of the sacred and the
profane: it is housed in
The next day, the Mille Miglia “travelling
a former Benedictine
museum” reaches Rome and on Saturday monastery built around
heads back to Brescia, having covered a the year 1000.
distance of 1,600 km, or 1,000 miles. The
course runs through other splendid Italian
cities of art and includes a series of challenges
in which drivers must pit their skills against
the clock. Don’t think for a minute that the
competitors are interested only in showing
off their racing cars. Competition is always
heated and everyone wants to win.
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The Centomiglia

Every September since 1951, the most noteworthy freshwater

regatta in the world takes place on Lake Garda: the Centomiglia.
This competition, which begins in the small harbour at Bogliaco, involves about 350 sailboats
of varying size, whose colourful sails dot the blue waters of the lake. Enthusiasts and experts
in the sport gather along the shore and at strategic points with the best views. Many people
follow the regatta from their own boats or on ships chartered by the Navigarda company.
Some professional teams participate in the regatta to test themselves against the lake’s tricky
100 Week is an event that
takes place at the same waves and the northerly winds and to train for the prestigious Louis Vuitton and America’s
time as the Centomiglia Cup competitions. The sailing cub of Gargnano also participates in these contests with
and, in addition to other its own crew.
sailing challenges, includes
concerts and festivals in the
piazzas of Gargnano and
Bogliaco, where you
can meet the skippers and
their crews.
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 Classical music and the wonderful Vittoriale
theatre season in Gardone Riviera take place with
Lake Garda as a romantic backdrop. The high
point of the concert season at the Teatro Grande
in Brescia is the International Piano Festival, dedicated to the
great Brescia maestro Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Le diecigiornate
is a 10-day nonstop event, for people who can’t get enough music
(and more), with concerts, shows, food-tasting and performances that
go from early morning until well past midnight. Large rock concerts
are also held in the piazzas of the city’s historic centre.

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There are one-of-a-kind sports events, such as
the Mille Miglia and the Centomiglia Regatta,
which take place on the waters of Lake Garda.
If it is true that the life of a city is measured by the events it hosts,
there is no doubt that Brescia will capture you, and that art, music
and sports will define your voyage and enable you to explore the city
in a new way.

A team of Brescia business leaders is at the helm

of +39, the Italian sailboat that will compete for the
Louis Vuitton and America’s Cups. Bresciatourism
is a supporter of this adventure 17
 Started in 2006, the International Photography Biennial is the place
to be for photography enthusiasts, and more.
This is an opportunity to travel the city’s
ancient alleyways and explore museums,
courtyards, and the numerous, often
unusual, exhibit spaces showing the work
of artists from around the world. It takes
place in the summer months and involves
city and provincial galleries and museums,
displaying many works by the great masters
of photography. If you are a true enthusiast,
don’t miss this event.

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 The International
Contemporary Circus Festival
is an event that takes place in the months of June and July and involves the whole city of Brescia.
This noteworthy festival, described as “strange and unnerving” by its creator, mixes the spectacle of the contemporary
circus (which does not include animals) with dance, theatre and other forms of art. Bizarre jugglers, dancers and actors
perform in the most evocative areas of the city: in piazzas and theatres, but also in courtyards and spaces that are usually
closed to the public. Artists from around the world take part every year in the Festival: their gestures and their moving
bodies are an expression of total freedom.

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 The
International
Piano Festival
of Brescia and Bergamo
has taken place since 1964 at the Teatro Grande in Brescia and the
Donizetti in Bergamo. On special occasions, performances are also
staged at La Scala in Milan and in other Italian theatres of note. The
festival is dedicated to the great Brescia pianist Arturo Benedetti
Michelangeli, considered one of the greatest interpreters of the
instrument. It takes place from April to June and features about 30
concerts in which orchestra conductors and internationally known
musicians compete around a single musical theme.

If the harmonies of the piano enchant you,

you are in the right city.

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The city comes to life: have you ever tried drinking a cappuccino
while enjoying the sweet sounds of a harp, sipping an aperitif
while literary passages are read to you, or walking in the dead
of night surrounded by ancient monuments, enthralled by piano
melodies?

Lediecigiornate The title “Lediecigiornate (ten days)” refers

to the rebellion of the citizens of Brescia
against foreign domination during the
Risorgimento. This festival takes place in
June and features dozens of concerts at
the Santa Giulia Museum, San Barnaba
Auditorium and in the historic streets
and piazzas of the city. From early in
the morning until late at night there are
concerts, meetings with artists, shows,
art, music and activities for children.

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 I(Bs)Shopping

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After a busy day of art exhibits, music festivals
and trendy events, don’t forget to go shopping in
the shopping areas of the Province of Brescia.
The historic centre is the largest shopping centre in the province.
Have lots of fun checking out the shops on Corso Zanardelli and Corso
Palestro and enjoying the lights of the Italian fashion boutiques while
you look for novelties, local specialties, great wines from Franciacorta
and Lake Garda, and even (why not?) a beautiful gift to bring a smile
to a loved one’s face.

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 Modern outlet stores located in
the province are a great favourite
with tourists. They offer brand-
name products at reasonable
prices.

Boutiques and shops of every kind await you

to thrill you and help you realize your dream
of sharing unique Made in Italy products with
your friends.

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 Info, hotel, booking:
www.bresciatourism.it
ENIT
Agenzia Nazionale
del Turismo

Regione Lombardia
Turismo

Provincia di Brescia

Comune di Brescia