Let’s pretend you are in Milan visiting, and after few days you get tired of the chaotic lifestyle and cost, need an escape to get some fresh air, but still want to maintain the luxurious, fancy Milanese style. What is the best solution for you? It is very easy! Go and visit Brescia, the nearby city of Milan, also known as the “Lioness of Italy”.
Brescia and his beautiful historical surroundings
Brescia is a very fascinating city that not so many people outside of Italy know. This is a pity, since it is a good alternative to Milan, a city that can be very budget consuming and may increase stress. Brescia, or as it was in antiquity “Brixia”, is mostly an industrial city, also famous for its cultural baggage, that includes the archaeological area of the Roman Forum and the Unesco World Heritage Site of San Salvatore- Santa Giulia monastery. This Roman style is present everywhere inside the city walls, and it is very interesting to take a day of walking in order to admire the very different styles of doors that it has. Being that Brescia is an industrial city, it offers a wide range of Italian tailored shops, and it is very nice to walk around shopping, having a look at the neighbourhoods in an easy relaxed style.
Enjoy the magic of Brescia by walking around
Though what we want, is to explore Brescia under a glamorous eye, discovering the city just by walking through its amazing little ancient streets, and enjoying the typical goodies it can offer. This city is ideal for people that love Milan, since it is very similar to it, but it is affordable at a lower price. The best time to visit is absolutely at night, with its lights that give Brescia a new charming look that day time has not. One of the most amazing spots to visit during the evenings, is Piazza Duomo, which around this time, feels magical.
Living the good life with Aperitivo time
People living in Brescia are a clear example of how to live the good life, in fact they love “fancy” places and spending time in nice restaurants and bars after work. It is common to see places getting crowded after 6pm when Italians love to have an “ Aperitivo”. Girls enjoy walking around in very elegant styles, putting on their heels even on a normal night out, and boys love fashion as well. It is indeed very interesting to get inside the true Italian aperitivo culture and mix with local people. The main gathering places for this purpose are Piazza Duomo, Piazza Loggia, Piazzale Arnaldo, and Carmine.
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Pirlo and stuzzichini, do it the Italian way!
But what is the aperitivo ritual exactly? Every Italian city has its own traditions regarding it, and Brescia has its as well. The main attraction in this sense, is the “Pirlo”, a local drink made with sparkling wine, water, seltz, and Aperol. It is very similar to the Venetian Spritz, but the two cities tend to separate their identities and say that the two drinks are completely different. In Brescia it is common to go for food while drinking, since dinner is typically served late. Almost all the more popular bars offer a discrete quantity of food, together with the drink you order, around that specific hour of the day. It must be noted that normally this ritual happens between 5:00 pm and 9:00 pm, so if you go too early or too late, it is possible you won’t receive any food with your drink. Prices are quite affordable, and with an average of 5 EUR ( 5.7 USD ) you can buy a Pirlo with plenty of food, enjoying your evening with more rounds of orders.
Take a detour from your travel routine and try somewhere new
In conclusion, Brescia is the ideal place for a fancy night out with friends, very suitable for people that love living the good life at a affordable price. I wouldn’t suggest staying in Brescia for more than 2 days, since the tourist attractions are limited, but it is absolutely worth a day trip, or a night out at least. Coming from Milan and Verona, it is about 1 hour from both cities. Thus, the best thing would be to insert Brescia in your travel plans if you are already going to visit close by cities, such as Milan and Verona. It is also a nice stop if you are on a work trip to Northern Italy, and want to enjoy a different night out after work, or want to take your clients out in a relaxed, private atmosphere, ideal to discuss business.
Curious to try a Pirlo yourself? Well then start planning now, and put Brescia on your next Italian vacation itinerary; you won’t regret it!
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