Piazza Paolo VI

Piazza Paolo VI, formerly known as Piazza del Duomo, is one of the main squares of Brescia, located about 100 meters from Piazza della Loggia and about the same distance from Piazza della Vittoria.

Part of the historical center of Brescia, it is known as Piazza del Duomo due to the presence of the two cathedrals of the city, and it was named after Pope Paul VI.

ARCHITECTURE

The square appeared in medieval times, being gradually enclosed by various buildings. One of the buildings of that era is Palazzo Broletto, which today includes the Civic Tower (Torre del Pegol) and Loggia delle Grida, located on the northeastern side of the square, dating back to the 13th century.

Palazzo Broletto is considered the oldest public building in Brescia, and today it houses the Prefecture, the Provincial Administration and some municipal offices.

On the eastern part of the square, we can also find the New Cathedral of Brescia (Duomo Nuovo), built between 1604 and 1825, in various architectural styles ranging from late Baroque to Rococo.

The next structure is the Old Cathedral (Duomo Vecchio), known also as La Rotonda, an example of Romanesque architecture from the 11th century.

On the southern area of the square, we can find Palazzo Negroboni, the headquarters of Credito Agrario Bresciano (now, UBI Banca), dating back to the early 20th century, the work of the Brescian architect Antonio Tagliaferri.

Opposite the New Cathedral, there is a Neoclassical building dating back to 1809, and Casa dei Camerlenghi (House of the Camerlenghi), so called because it was the seat of the camerlenghi, financial administrators during the Venetian domination.

Under the House of the Camerlenghi, there is a passage of medieval origin, known as Galleria Duomo, which connects the square with the arcades of Via X Giornate, built on a project by Piero Maria Bagnadore, along the old city walls.

HOW TO GET THERE

Piazza Paolo VI is located about 1.1 kilometer from the Brescia railway station. The closest bus stop is in Piazza Martiri di Belfiore, on the bus Lines 2, 6, 10, 11, 17 and 18.