The Paolo and Carolina Zani Foundation for art and culture is situated in Cellatica, one of the beautiful municipalities of the Franciacorta area between Brescia and the southern reaches of Lake Iseo. The area is known for the presence of important cultural and historic sites, and wonderful hills and vineyards of worldwide renown, making the Franciacorta area a magical discovery for many tourists who come here for the first time. It is here in the moraine hills that Franciacorta DOCG wine is produced following the traditional method of secondary bottle fermentation. So we are dealing with a territory offering tourists overall cultural experiences that include art and food and wine, also thanks to the proximity with the splendid city of Brescia.
SANCTUARY OF THE MADONNA DELLA STELLA:
Via Stella, 17 Cellatica
A place of worship of great importance that holds some noteworthy paintings by local artists such as Girolamo Romanino and Pietro Marone. A work of great historic relevance is the painting by Grazio Cossali depicting the life of S. Carlo Borromeo, whom the artist met in person.
ABBEY OF SAINT NICOLA
Via Brescia, 83 Rodengo Saiano
A monastic complex founded by the monks of the Order of Cluny, noteworthy among the various religious buildings in Northern Italy. The interior is adorned by the works of artists such as Lattanzio Gambara and Alessandro Bonvicini detto Moretto.
MONASTERY OF SAINT PETER IN LAMOSA
Via Monastero, 5 Provaglio d'Iseo
Only a few steps away from the Torbiere rises the Monastery of Saint Peter in Lamosa, donated to the Monks of the Order of Cluny in 1083. It has changed ownership several times throughout the centuries. The original layout shows different influences, from the primitive Romanesque forms to hints of baroque.
PIEVE DI SANT’ANDREA
Via Pieve, 36 – 25049 Iseo (BS)
In the historic city center of Iseo you can admire the ancient church founded in the 6th century, which underwent several extensions over time. At the center of the Romanesque façade is the typical bell tower, one of the most beautiful in the area. Inside you can see Francesco Hayez’s The Archangel Michael.
QUISTINI CASTLE
Via Sopramura, 3° - 25038 Rovato BS
This castle is unique and one of the last remaining examples of fortified countryside residences. It is possible to visit some of the halls, among which the Grotesque Hall and the Main Hall, which is the largest single-span hall in the Franciacorta area.
SEBINO PEAT BOG
Via Sebina – 25050 Provaglio d’Iseo
At the southern end of Lake Iseo lies the Peat Bog Nature Reserve, a place of great naturalistic and faunal importance. The park is noteworthy for its swampy nature that offers visitors evocative landscapes.
CAPITOLIUM – ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA
Via dei Musei, 55, 25121 Brescia
Built by Emperor Vespasian in 73 AD, the temple was dedicated to the Capitoline Triad: Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. It overlooks the charming piazza below, heart of the religious and political life of Roman Brescia.
BRESCIA CASTLE
Via Castello 9 - 25121 Brescia
The ancient Venetian-Visconti fortress, one of the vastest fortified complexes in Italy, overlooks the city of Brescia. Since 1988 it has housed the Luigi Marzoli civic Arms Museum, an important collection of weapons and armor documenting the many centuries long production of armories in Milan and Brescia. The Grande Miglio houses the Museo del Risorgimento.
www.bresciamusei.comPIAZZA PAOLO VI
Once Piazza del Duomo, this is one of the most ancient city squares, heart of the town’s political and religious life. The peculiarity of this square is the presence of buildings that are noteworthy from an architectural point of view, such as Palazzo del Broletto (the city hall), the Rotonda or Duomo Vecchio, and in the center the Duomo Nuovo.
PIAZZA DELLA LOGGIA
A Renaissance jewel, this square became the city’s living heart. Noteworthy are the Palazzo della Loggia, the Porticoes, the Watch Tower, and the Monte di Pietà. The entire square is a perfect example of the magnificence of the Venetian Republic.
www.turismobrescia.itPIAZZA DELLA VITTORIA
Designed by Piacentini in accordance with the new Fascist city plan, the very central Piazza della Vittoria was inaugurated in 1932. To the North rises the Palazzo delle Poste, to the West one of Italy’s first skyscrapers (60 meters, or 196 feet, tall), and to the East the Torre della Rivoluzione.
www.turismobrescia.itPIAZZA ARNALDO
Thus called because of the large bronze statue of Arnaldo da Brescia, a preaching friar executed in 1155. At the southern end of the square stands the neoclassic building of the grain market, where grains were bought and sold in the 19th century
www.turismobrescia.it
“L. MARZOLI” ARMS MUSEUM and RISORGIMENTO MUSEUM
Via del Castello, 9, 25121 Brescia
www.bresciamusei.comTHE MILLE MIGLIA MUSEUM
Viale della Bornata, 123, 25135 Sant'Eufemia della Fonte (BS)
www.museomillemiglia.it