Piazza del Mercato (Market Square)

THE SQUARE

Once the commercial heart of the city, today it’s once again a lively, informal, everyday meeting point.

Created in the 15th century, Piazza del Mercato has changed appearance several times, especially between the Renaissance and the early 20th century. Today, it bears the signs of this, effortlessly blending different epochs and styles: the 15th-century arcades to the south, the 16th-century Palazzo Beretta, the 17th-century Church of the Madonna del Lino, the 18th-century Palazzo Martinengo Palatini, the 19th-century fountain and 20th-century architecture, including the former covered market of the 1960s and the 1930s buildings.

Here you still find historical trattorias where you can savour genuine, traditional Brescian cuisine, and regular farmers' markets with seasonal produce sold directly by producers. It’s a cosy, authentic, urban space where historical memory meets the present. A corner of the city that doesn't try to impress, but makes you feel at home