Santa Giulia Museum, Museum complex in Brescia, Italy.
The Santa Giulia Museum occupies a former monastery and displays collections spanning from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, with Roman artifacts and religious artworks. The exhibition spreads across different sections, including an area with preserved Roman house ruins featuring mosaics and original heating systems.
The building originated in the 8th century as the San Salvatore basilica under Longobard king Desiderius, which later incorporated monastic structures. Over centuries, Roman layers beneath the foundation were integrated and preserved, making the different periods of the city visible.
The museum displays artworks created or venerated in Brescia, including the Cross of Desiderius and ivory reliquaries from early medieval times. Visitors can experience the craftsmanship and religious meaning of these objects directly as they move through the halls.
The museum is located in central Brescia and is easily accessible by public transport. It is wise to allow adequate time for visiting, since the various sections and collections require time to explore thoroughly.
The Roman house complex beneath the monastery shows the daily life of a wealthy family with hypocaust heating, mosaics, and even traces of garden plantings. These underground rooms offer rare insight into private domestic spaces that were preserved by the chance of history.
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