Monumento a Arnaldo da Brescia

Monumento a Arnaldo da Brescia is a four-meter-tall bronze statue standing on a base of red Verona marble and Botticino stone in Piazzale Arnaldo. The pedestal features carefully worked columns and decorative frames that enhance the overall composition.

The monument was unveiled in 1882 following two decades of planning and construction to honor Arnold of Brescia, a medieval monk who challenged clergy corruption. His teachings against church abuses left a lasting impact on religious reform movements.

The four bronze relief panels on the pedestal show scenes from Arnold's preaching and his struggles against corruption, visible to visitors standing around the base. These carved scenes help people understand his message through visual storytelling rather than words alone.

The statue sits in a central position on the square and serves as an easy reference point for meeting and orientation in the city center. Visit in the morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and get better light for viewing the relief panels up close.

The neo-Romanesque pedestal was designed by architect Antonio Tagliaferri and displays careful handcrafted details that visitors often overlook when admiring the statue itself. The base shows the skilled stonework typical of the late 1800s.