Statue of Arnaldo da Brescia
Statue of Arnaldo da BresciaPiazzale Arnaldo, 3C, 25121 Brescia BS
Statue of Arnaldo da Brescia. The monument to free thought. In the centre of Piazzale Arnaldo, a bronze figure still speaks. In Brescia, where history looks you in the eye.
THE CHARACTER AND HIS STORY
The statue of Arnaldo da Brescia stands in the eastern part of Piazzale Arnaldo, a historic square on the eastern edge of the city centre, now the beating heart of social life, events and local nightlife. The monument is dedicated to Arnaldo da Brescia, a 12th-century friar who opposed the corruption of the clergy and preached ideas of reform and poverty of the Church against the established powers. For his audacity, he was tried, convicted and executed in Rome in 1155, and his ashes were scattered to prevent him from becoming an object of worship.
THE WORK AND ITS MEANING
The monument was inaugurated in 1882 and is one of the most characteristic symbols of 19th-century Brescia. The statue, modelled in bronze by the sculptor Odoardo Tabacchi, stands out on a richly crafted base designed by the architect Antonio Tagliaferri.
The main sculpture depicts Arnaldo in a tunic and hood, in a solemn pose, while on either side of the pedestal are bronze panels depicting episodes from his life: sermons in Brescia and Rome, his trial before the imperial and papal authorities, and the moment of his death as a symbol of commitment and freedom of thought.
The monument is not only an artistic testimony: it is a civic and cultural symbol, recounting the tension between faith, authority and free thought and reminding us how Brescia has always been able to give voice to forward-looking ideas.