Castello di Brescia
Ridotto EUR 5.50
Tickets from EUR 5.50Sign up free — See who's going and message them.
Is this your place? Get the badge for your websiteAbout
More photos 11
1 / 11
Why go
- A 14th-century keep standing on the remains of a 1st-century Roman temple.
- A steam locomotive on San Faustino bastion that once ran the Brescia–Edolo route.
Plan your visit
Prices
From the venue's website · checked 28 Oct 2026
Opening hours
Today06:00 – 13:30Show all
Don't miss
- MastioDesigned as the garrison captain’s residence, the Mastio retains painted bands and geometric and floral motifs.Central keep
- Torre MirabellaTorre Mirabella is the sole surviving remnant of a basilica demolished in the 18th century after damage from a nearby powder magazine explosion.Fortress grounds
- Roman temple remainsThe temple’s support walls and stair foundations remain visible.Cidneo Hill
Know before you go
- Monday–Tuesday: 06:00–13:30.
- Wednesday–Thursday: 06:00–14:30.
- Friday–Saturday: 06:00–15:00.
What's inside
- Luigi Marzoli Weapons Museum — housed in the keep, with medieval armour and weapons and artillery from the 15th and 16th centuries
- Civic Museum of the Risorgimento — housed in Grande Miglio, covering Italy’s early struggles for independence and unification
- Specola Cidnea
- Two large model railway layouts
Tips for your visit
- Reach the central keep by crossing the drawbridge at Torre dei Prigionieri.
Interesting facts4
-
250 metres
The fortress complex covers about 300 by 250 metres and occupies all of Cidneo Hill.
Castello di Brescia - Wikipedia -
A defensive system around the keep included six towers, covered passages and possibly drawbridges.
Castello di Brescia - Wikipedia -
The fortress was equipped with food stores, bakeries, barracks, religious buildings, cisterns and powder magazines.
Castello di Brescia - Wikipedia -
Torre dei Francesi was rebuilt by the French after a powder keg exploded.
Brescia - Wikivoyage (see)
Shorts
History
The hill’s first substantial structure was a small temple dedicated to the Celtic god Bergimus. The castle’s strategic military role ended after defensive efforts shifted to Bergamo.
- 1st century CERomans built a monumental temple whose dimensions nearly matched those of the later Visconti keep.
- 1237–1254An expansion of Brescia’s city walls shaped the city’s outline until the late 19th century.
- 1337The Visconti built Cittadella Nova, enclosing the Broletto and cathedral area.
- 1426Brescia came under Venetian rule, and the castle’s towers changed from square to circular plans.
- 1509French troops took Brescia and its castle.
Show all
- 1512French troops entered through Strada del Soccorso during the sack of Brescia.
- 1588Plans were approved for the bastioned walls of San Pietro, San Marco, San Faustino and Pusterla.
- 1597–1598Piccolo and Grande Miglio were built as grain stores.
- 1849During the uprising, Austrian soldiers barricaded themselves in the fortress and bombarded the city.
- After 1859Restoration gradually changed the fortress from a military site into a public leisure and events venue.
- 1913–1988A zoo operated on the grounds.
Photo spots
- Views from the fortressValtrompia, the Alps and BresciaFortress
- Torre MirabellaThe surviving one of the former basilica’s two façade towersFortress grounds
Tours and audio guides
- Guided tours of hidden interior spaces
- Led by Associazione speleologica bresciana Tours include passages and conduits.
Sources: Brescia Castle - Wikipedia · Brescia - Wikivoyage (see) · Castello di Brescia - Wikipedia · checked 6 Oct 2026
- Website
- bresciamusei.com/
- Phone
- +390308174200
Questions and answers
Did Castello di Brescia once have a zoo?
Yes. A zoo operated on the grounds from 1913 until 1988.
What was Strada del Soccorso at Castello di Brescia for?
It was laid out as a northern escape route and later widened in the 16th century.
What happened at Castello di Brescia in 1849?
During the uprising, Austrian soldiers barricaded themselves in the fortress and bombarded the city.
Which bastions were included in the 1588 plans for Castello di Brescia?
San Pietro, San Marco, San Faustino and Pusterla.
- See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
- Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
- Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.