HALF DAY IN ROMAN BRIXIA
Celts settled at the beginning. Also called Gauls, they made Brescia their capital.
From the “top” of the hill, the name of the town: Brik – Brixia - Roman Brixia, from the Celtic term that means “top or summit”.
Among all Celtic Tribes living in the North of Italy, only Gauls made an alliance with Roman Republic.
Brixia was given the Roman Law in 89 B.C., and the Roman Citizenship in the year 49 B.C.
Octavian Augustus, the first Emperor, in 27 B.C. elevated the town to the status of Colonia Civica Augusta Brixia. In 73 A.D. Vespasian wanted the Capitolium (the Capitoline Temple) and renewed the Forum Area.
In 96 A.D., Roman Brixia achieves the maximum demographic expansion (about 9,000 inhabitants).
The urban plan of the town imitated the military camp model, where roads crossed, starting from Decumanus and Cardus. The formation of insulae, that are current blocks (in modern cities), let the town look like a chess board, still visible nowadays.
During the Imperial Age, Brescia was surrounded by walls.
Six Gates were present: The Milanese (Porta Bruciata), the south-west Paganora, the Cremonese, the Torlonga (towards Mantua), the Veronese, the Porticula (Sant’Eusebio).
The heart of Roman town was Forum Square.
Roman Brixia discovery begins with SANTA GIULIA MUSEUM.The so called Museum of the City let visitor to retrace the Roman history and see archaeological artefacts such as the Winged Victory or special sections like Domus dell’Ortaglia. Many mosaics are present, objects linked to dead’s veneration … visitor is completely immerged in two thousand years ago life.
In Forum Square, remains of Capitoline Temple, remains of the Roman Theatre and remains of lateral Porticoes. All this put to light, by excavation works, started in 1824.
Capitolium, inaugurated in 73 A.D., built by Emperor Vespasian, (as already stated).Higher level, with a pronao and divided into three sections, in the middle that dedicated to Jupiter, the other two: Giuno and Minerva.
- By paying a supplement to Santa Giulia ticket, visitor is allowed to see Capitolium, Republican Temple and Theatre inside.