# Brescia

> Italian city in Lombardy

**Wikidata**: [Q6221](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6221)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brescia)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/brescia

## Summary
Brescia is a significant city and comune located in the Lombardy region of Italy, serving as the administrative capital of the Province of Brescia. Known historically by the name Brixia, it is recognized as a "big city" and major human settlement with a population of 196,446 as of 2023. The city covers an area of approximately 90.34 square kilometers and is situated at an elevation of 149 meters above sea level.

## Key Facts
- **Location**: Lombardy, Italy; coordinates: 45.5389°N, 10.2203°E.
- **Population**: 196,446 (as of January 1, 2023); 196,745 (2018); 197,008 (2017).
- **Area**: 90.34 square kilometers (as of October 9, 2011).
- **Elevation**: 149 meters above sea level.
- **Time Zone**: UTC+01:00 (standard time) and UTC+02:00 (daylight saving time).
- **Demonym**: Bresciano (masculine singular), Bresan (masculine singular variant), Bresciani (masculine plural).
- **Patron Saints**: Faustinus and Jovita.
- **License Plate Code**: BS.
- **Local Dialing Code**: 030.
- **Postal Code**: 25121–25136.
- **Official Language**: Italian.
- **Seismic Classification**: Zone 2.
- **UN/LOCODE**: ITBRC.
- **Awards**: Silver Medal of Military Valour (awarded October 3, 1952).

## FAQs
**Who is the current head of government for Brescia?**
Laura Castelletti has served as the head of government (Mayor) since May 20, 2023. She succeeded Emilio Del Bono, who held the office from June 12, 2013, to May 20, 2023.

**What is the historical significance of Brescia's name and origin?**
The city is named after its ancient designation, Brixia. Historically, it has been part of several political entities, including the Republic of Venice (until 1797), the Cisalpine Republic, the Italian Republic, the Kingdom of Italy, and the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, before becoming part of modern Italy in 1860.

**Which administrative and regional bodies does Brescia belong to?**
Brescia is a member of the National Association of Italian Municipalities. It serves as the capital of the Province of Brescia (since 1859) and is located within the Lombardy region.

**What are the neighboring municipalities of Brescia?**
The city shares borders with Borgosatollo, Botticino, Bovezzo, Castel Mella, Castenedolo, Cellatica, Collebeato, Concesio, Flero, Gussago, Nave, Rezzato, Roncadelle, and San Zeno Naviglio.

**Which cities is Brescia twinned with?**
Brescia maintains twinning relationships with several international cities, including Bethlehem (since 2007), Darmstadt (since 1991), Logroño (since 2006), Troyes (since 2015), Bouaké, Maringá, Shenzhen, Toluca de Lerdo, Kaunas, Makhachkala, and the Italian cities of Biancavilla and Pescara.

## Why It Matters
Brescia holds substantial regional importance as the capital of the Province of Brescia and a major urban center in Lombardy. Its historical depth is evidenced by its ancient name "Brixia" and its inclusion in major historical encyclopedic works such as the *Encyclopædia Britannica* (11th edition) and *Pauly–Wissowa*. The city's resilience and historical military significance are highlighted by its receipt of the Silver Medal of Military Valour in 1952. It functions as a critical infrastructural node with a specific UN/LOCODE (ITBRC) and is recognized in seismic classifications and various international authority control systems, underscoring its administrative and cultural weight.

## Notable For
- Being referred to as the "Lioness of Italy," a distinctive alias reflecting its historical character.
- Owning and operating major sports infrastructure, specifically the Aldo Invernici Stadium and Stadio Mario Rigamonti.
- Serving as a focal point for historical study, described by sources ranging from the *Great Soviet Encyclopedia* to the *Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron*.
- Hosting a significant Wikimedia presence, with a "sitelink count" of 120 and Wikipedia articles in over 100 languages, including Latin, Esperanto, and Lombard.
- Possessing a "big city" classification, distinguishing it from smaller comuni within the Italian administrative framework.

## Body

### Geography and Environment
Brescia is situated in northern Italy within the Lombardy region. Its precise coordinates are 45.538888888889°N, 10.220280555556°E. The city's geographic extent is defined by specific coordinate points: the northernmost point at 45.5899752°N, the southernmost at 45.4807171°N, the easternmost at 10.3002186°E, and the westernmost at 10.1470684°E.

The urban landscape is shaped by several bodies of water; the city is located in or next to the Mella river, the Garza River, and the Naviglio of Brescia. The city has a total area of 90.34 square kilometers. It is categorized with a seismic classification of 2, indicating a level of seismic risk.

### Governance and Administration
The administration of Brescia is led by a head of government. Laura Castelletti currently holds this position, having assumed office on May 20, 2023. She succeeded Emilio Del Bono, whose tenure lasted from June 12, 2013, to May 20, 2023.

The city is the capital of the Province of Brescia, a status it has held since 1859. Previously, it served as the capital of the "province of Brescia" (1815–1859) and the Mella Department (1797–1814). It is also a member of the National Association of Italian Municipalities. The city's official website is http://www.comune.brescia.it, and its Italian Cadastre Code (municipality) is B157. For administrative identification, it holds an ISTAT ID of 017029 and an indicepa ID of c_b157.

### Demographics and Society
Brescia has a recorded population of 196,446 residents as of January 1, 2023. Historical demographic data shows a population of 196,745 on January 1, 2018, 197,008 on May 1, 2017, and 196,359 on June 30, 2016. Residents are known as "Bresciano," "Bresan," or "Bresciani" (plural). The city observes the feast of its patron saints, Faustinus and Jovita. The official language is Italian, though the city has a strong regional identity evidenced by its native label and Lombard cultural connections.

### Historical and Political Context
The entity known today as Brescia was historically named Brixia. Its political history includes membership in the Republic of Venice (starting in 1426 and ending in 1797), the Cisalpine Republic (1797–1802), the Italian Republic (1802–1805), the Kingdom of Italy (1805–1814), and the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia (1814–1860). It became part of the modern state of Italy in 1860.

The city has been the subject of significant historical events, such as the Siege of Brescia. It has received awards for military valour, specifically the Silver Medal in 1952. The history of the city is documented in a dedicated "Timeline of Brescia" resource.

### Infrastructure and Transport
Brescia's infrastructure includes the ownership of the Aldo Invernici Stadium and the Stadio Mario Rigamonti. The city utilizes the license plate code BS and the local dialing code 030. Postal codes for the area range from 25121 to 25136. In terms of global logistics, the city is identified by the UN/LOCODE ITBRC.

### International Relations
The city maintains a robust network of twinned administrative bodies (twin towns). These include:
- **Bethlehem** (since 2007)
- **Darmstadt** (since 1991)
- **Logroño** (since 2006)
- **Troyes** (since 2015)
- **Bouaké**
- **Maringá**
- **Biancavilla**
- **Pescara**
- **Shenzhen**
- **Toluca de Lerdo**
- **Kaunas**
- **Makhachkala**

### Cultural and Academic Recognition
Brescia is extensively cataloged in academic and cultural databases. It is listed in the *Encyclopædia Britannica* (11th edition), *Pauly–Wissowa*, the *Great Soviet Encyclopedia*, and the *Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron*. It possesses identifiers from the Grove Art Online, the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names, the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire, and the National Library of Israel.

The city's cultural assets include a flag, a coat of arms, and a locator map image. It is also associated with categories for films shot in the location, views of the city, and maps of the city.

### Identifiers and Authority Control
Brescia holds a vast array of unique identifiers across global systems:
- **VIAF ID**: 158262475
- **GeoNames ID**: 6542113
- **Freebase ID**: /m/01tsq8
- **ISNI**: 000000041755814X
- **GND ID**: 4008213-1
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n79039793
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID**: 11933398k
- **MusicBrainz Area ID**: 2c8d19f6-bbc2-4097-8afa-e7055545a3f6
- **OpenStreetMap Relation ID**: 45144

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Gemellaggi](http://www.turismobrescia.it/it/content/gemellaggi)
3. [Source](https://elpulsoedomex.com.mx/prepara-toluca-la-expo-ciudades-hermanas/)
4. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Czech National Authority Database
8. MusicBrainz
9. [Source](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2016gen/index02.html)
10. Italian National Institute of Statistics
11. [Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/bilmens2017gen/index.html)
12. [Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018. Italian National Institute of Statistics](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html)
13. [Source](https://demo.istat.it/?l=it)
14. BBC Things
15. [Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011. Italian National Institute of Statistics](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224)
16. Wiki Loves Monuments Italia
17. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
18. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Brescia-6MXDKD)
19. Name Suggestion Index
20. [Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands](https://biblio.hiu.cas.cz/records/5ea12bac-4596-4508-a7e2-89f563b649af)
21. Provenio
22. Seismic classification in Italy
23. [Source](https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/it/sismico/attivita/classificazione-sismica)
24. museum-digital