Founded more than 3,200 years ago, before Roman times, this prosperous city of more than 320,000 (metro area 1.5 million) lies near Milan amid rolling hills known for producing white sparkling Franciacorta wine, and though it's an industrial powerhouse, there's also a lot to offer visitors, including the picturesque historic centre including a Roman forum and the monastic complex of San Salvatore-San Giulia, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And now jointly with Bergamo just a half hour away, Brescia is getting a special year in the sun as this year's national "Capital of Culture", a programme which began in 2014, meaning a wide menu of cultural offerings even beyond the usual. This year's themes are: "The City of Hidden Treasures"; "Nature City"; "The City that Invents"; and "Culture as Care".

More info on Bergamo Brescia 2023 here.

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