Scavi archeologici di Palazzo Martinengo Cesaresco Novarino, Archaeological excavation site in Piazza del Foro, Brescia, Italy.
The Scavi archeologici di Palazzo Martinengo Cesaresco Novarino lies beneath Piazza del Foro and reveals overlapping layers of ancient structures and later construction. The excavated area spans five underground rooms where Roman residential buildings and medieval foundations can be seen together.
The oldest structures beneath the square date to around 500 BC, with remains from the Roman period and medieval times lying below the palace built in 1663. The palazzo replaced an earlier 15th-century building and preserved the archaeological layers underneath.
The underground rooms show how different periods of Brescia's history layered on top of each other over centuries. Visitors can observe how the city was repeatedly rebuilt while preserving traces of what came before.
Access to the underground excavation can be reached from Piazza del Foro or via Via Musei, depending on which entrance you approach from. The site is a subterranean space that tends to be cooler and has limited natural light.
A preserved Renaissance fountain sits in the palazzo's interior courtyard, appearing unexpectedly amid the archaeological excavations. The Martinengo family had their symbols placed on the facade, including eagles that remain visible above the entrance.
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