Piazza della Vittoria | Brescia | Italy

Dear friends of this wonderful community,

In this post today, I want to continue our journey of discovering Brescia. If you'd like to revisit some of my previous articles about this fascinating city, you can find them on my profile. By the way, I will soon be posting a video on my YouTube channel that will further explore the beauties of Brescia, and I must say there are many.

However, today I'd like to focus in particular on a square that has sparked mixed opinions among the citizens of Brescia over the years. I'm talking about Piazza della Vittoria, one of the city's most important and recognizable squares. As you can see from the photos I've shared with you here, it's also one of the most frequented, even though on the day of my photos, there was a market of very interesting artisanal products taking place.

Piazza della Vittoria was built between 1927 and 1932 according to the design of the architect Marcello Piacentini. It represents an icon of architecture and urban planning during the fascist era in Italy. However, it should be noted that a part of Brescia's population never welcomed it with open arms. The reason for this controversy is related to the fact that, to build the square, a part of the ancient medieval district of Pescherie was practically destroyed. In this place, beautifully frescoed buildings had been constructed, some of which were incorporated into the Post Office building, for example, and several citizens had to leave their homes.

When Piazza della Vittoria was constructed, it was rich in symbols of the fascist regime. However, many of these elements were removed after the war. If you observe carefully, you can still identify traces of these elements, although they were largely dismantled with great care.

The three main elements of this square are undoubtedly the Tower of the Revolution, often referred to as the first skyscraper built in Italy. This tower is also one of the tallest, currently reaching 60 meters. At the time, it seems to have housed public offices. Additionally, you can see from the photos I've shared the Post Office building, where nearby there's a small balcony from which Mussolini delivered the inaugural speech for the square.

Despite the historical controversies surrounding its creation, Piazza della Vittoria remains a significant landmark in the city of Brescia. In conclusion, I believe that Piazza della Vittoria is one of the few remaining examples of the fascist era, perhaps excluding the EUR area in Rome. It's undeniable that its construction led to the destruction of a medieval part of Brescia, something that evokes regret and anger. However, beyond political opinions, I believe it's important to preserve these monuments that remind us of a dark chapter in Italian history, one we should not forget.

I thank all of you for reading this article, and I hope you found it interesting. I also hope that you can personally visit the city of Brescia in the near future. I must admit that this city has deeply impressed me, and I'm sure it will do the same for you, given all the history it represents.

See you soon, friends!

@hotspotitaly