“Spread the soft braids
On the labored chest,
slow the palms, and rorid
Of death the white aspect,
Lies the pious, with the tremolo
gaze searching the heavens.”
Whether fact or legend, this majestic monastic complex lends itself to evoking mythical and ancient events, not least because it stands on an archaeological site of great importance that holds sedimented memories of centuries past.
Now a prestigious museum, Santa Giulia houses two rare gems: the Winged Victory and the Cross of King Desiderius.
The former is a large and elegant bronze sculpture representing Goddess Victory.
Think Napoleon was so fascinated by the beauty of the statue that he wanted a copy, which can now be seen in the Louvre.
Instead, under a starry sky shines the Cross of Desiderius, adorned with 212 among precious stones, glass gems and cameos.
In addition to the monastery, the area houses the basilica and crypt of San Salvatore, also from the Lombard period, the Romanesque oratory of Santa Maria in Solario, the Nuns’ Choir, and the 16th-century church of Santa Giulia with cloisters.
Santa Giulia is the most important museum in Brescia and covers an area of 14,000 square meters.
It houses as many as 11,000 pieces, including Celtic armor and weapons, Roman bronzes, Lombard artifacts, grave goods, mosaics, and frescoes.