Church of the Holy Body of Christ, Gothic church in Brescia, Italy.
The Church of the Holy Body of Christ is a church building with Gothic architecture, developed over several centuries, featuring an extensive interior layout. The structure includes three separate courtyards with gardens, while the walls and ceiling contain painted narrative cycles dating from the late 16th century.
Construction started in the middle of the 15th century with backing from a wealthy local family and was formally consecrated at the start of the 16th century. The space was later expanded and filled with artistic works intended to reflect the religious thinking of that era.
The name reflects the central role of the Eucharist, which became the focus of the fresco program added in the 16th century. These painted scenes were designed to teach spiritual lessons through images that visitors could easily grasp while moving through the space.
The location sits in a central area of the city and is reachable by standard city streets with clear addresses. The site is maintained by a religious community that manages the adjoining spaces and typically allows visits during daylight hours.
One of the courtyards holds an unusual timekeeping device that uses reflected sunlight to show the time of day. This system from centuries past demonstrates how people once tracked time without mechanical clocks.
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