Moving sustainably in the city is easier from today: new ones inaugurated E-VAI Point throughout the territory.
Recognized as the bravest city in Italy for the ardor shown during the 10 days of revolt against the invading Austrians in 1849, the “Lioness of Italy” actually has more than his heroism to offer residents and visitors.
Between squares, churches, historic buildings and sites nominated as World Heritage Sites, the city is rich in history, art and culture, a perfect destination for an out-of-the-ordinary trip!
E-VAI, the only electric car sharing service present throughout Lombardy, from 1 July the E-automia car sharing service will be launched, in collaboration with Brescia Mobilità and the Municipality of Brescia.
A tour around the city: 5 interesting visits in the heart of Brescia
To begin the visit of the city in the true spirit of Brescia, the advice, once we have parked our electric car, is to go to Piazza della Loggia and treat ourselves to a quick aperitif in one of the many places here: lemon zest, white wine, red bitters and seltzer well mixed in a glass. Nothing else is needed savor the classic”Pirlo", the Brescia version of the Venetian spritz. Accompanied with the excellent bertagnì, the typical fried cod of the area, it is the ideal way to prepare to face the city and its beauties.
For the occasion E-VAI proposes 5 destinations capable of covering the most diverse interests of visitors.
Piazza della Loggia
It is right here, in the beating heart of the city, that the different architectural styles that have crossed Brescia over the centuries mix. However, the Venetian imprint stands out above all, dating back to the dominion of the Serenissima in the second half of the 400th century.
In this square there are three buildings not to be missed: the Lodge, in fact, a white building recognizable by the three arches, the hull-shaped dome and the large facade carved in white marble; the Clock Tower, dating back to 1540, on which you can admire, in addition to the ancient astronomical clock, also the Màcc de le Ure (the Fools of the Hours), two bronze statues that strike the bell every hour; the Monte di Pietà from 1484, on whose façade there are inscriptions from the Roman era.
Also here, you can also find a piece of more contemporary history, with the commemorative plaque of the neo-fascist attack of 28 May 1974, in which a bomb killed 8 people and injured 102.
Square of the two Cathedrals
Another characteristic square in the heart of Brescia, this time known for the presence of two cathedrals. The new cathedral, right in the center of the square and the most important church in the city today, has a baroque marble façade and an 80 meter dome, third in size after that of San Pietro in Rome and that of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence. The old cathedral it is, however, the largest circular Romanesque stone temple in Italy, which houses splendid mosaics, a Roman thermal bath and the red marble sarcophagus of Berardo Maggi.
Acting as a temporal counterweight to the spiritual power present in what, in reality, is called Piazza Paolo VI, is the Broletto palace, in the past the center of the government of the Lordships and the Municipality.
The castle
There, on the Cidneo Hill, where the first settlement of the city arose, in the Bronze Age, today it stands one of the largest fortresses in Italy, built in a strategic position, dominant over the city and Franciacorta.
Brescia Castle, with its double drawbridge and its characteristic battlements, if it could speak it would tell of the Venetian domination in 1425 and the French conquest in 1509, of the Austrian domination and of the bloody battles that bloodied the 10 days of the Lioness of Italy or, again, of the partisans shot here in 1945. A witness to history, able to satisfy different types of visitors today, as it hosts the first public astronomical observatory in Italy, accurate railway models and the Museum of Arms, as well as being the scene of a medieval historical reenactment, open-air cinema in the summer and craft markets.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Brescia has the privilege of boasting UNESCO World Heritage Site. To help them reach this goal in 2011 was the Roman archaeological park, including the Piazza del Foro, the Capitoline Temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, the Complex of Santa Giulia, the main museum in the city with over 11.000 finds dating back to prehistoric times, and the monastic complex of San Salvatore.
They are some of the most visited attractions in Brescia, also thanks to the possibility of enjoying the archaeological sites with new augmented reality technologies, which make them perfect mixes of past and modernity to be discovered.
The Teatro Grande
A real must in Brescia not to be missed is the Teatro Grande, National Monument dating back to the end of the 800th century, on whose stage the most famous operas of the Italian tradition were staged and where the world premiere of the "Madama Butterfly” by Puccini.
To be admired inside, the elegant and sumptuous environments of the marvelous central hall with its loggias, stages and galleries, and the hall of plaster statues, representing 16 of the most important artists in Italy, including Giuseppe Verdi.
Rent a car E-VAI: the most comfortable and sustainable way to reach Brescia
Reaching the city of Brescia and its many attractions is very simple and can be done in a way comfortable and sustainable, Thanks to car sharing service E-VAI, present in more than 100 municipalities.
To move around the city it is possible to use the 20 E-automia cars present in the area which can be picked up and returned to the 19 stations.
