Roman Basilica

HISTORY

Built in the Flavian period (between 69 and 96 AD), the basilica was built together with the Capitoline temple. But there’s even more beneath its remains: excavations have revealed an earlier structure, dating from the Augustan period, which was probably already part of the city's first forum. As in any self-respecting Roman city, this building was the centre of civil activities. Here, justice was administered, business was done, decisions were made.

With the arrival of the late empire, the basilica lost its role: it was stripped of its marble, but remained standing until the 8th century, before being converted into dwellings and agricultural stores. In the following centuries, it almost disappeared

Between 1993 and 1998, a major restoration campaign brought to light what remained of the building: fragments of the façade, marble floors, decorative elements and an imposing structure. Today, part of the area houses the Archaeological Superintendence and a section can be visited as a museum.

DESCRIPTION

The basilica occupied the southern side of the Roman forum, as opposed to the Capitolium to the north. The monumental layout was characterised by a rectangular hall measuring 47.80 × 19.10 m, lit by three entrance portals and twelve windows decorated with Corinthian pilasters and capitals. The grey and white marble floors displayed geometric motifs in large squares, while the interior walls were covered with polychrome slabs of Greek and Asian marble. The decorations alternated between plant motifs, beads and astragals, still partly visible on the exterior walls.

The Roman Basilica isn’t just an archaeological site. It’s the sign of a Brescia that, even two thousand years ago, was at the centre of life.