Symbols and images of the city’s identity

The Santa Giulia Museum in Brescia has expanded its permanent exhibition dedicated to the Age of the Commune and the Lordships with a new section entitled “Signs and Images of Civic Identity”. A fascinating journey to the roots of the city’s history, with free admission for holders of the Abbonamento Musei pass.

From 24 September 2026, the Santa Giulia Museum invites visitors to discover a new, precious gem within the section dedicated to medieval Brescia. The new permanent exhibition, entitled “Symbols and images of urban identity”, brings together accounts of inestimable historical and symbolic value that recount the origins and development of Brescia’s civic identity.

From medieval seals to period coins: what to see

The centrepieces of the new exhibition are objects that played a key role in symbolising power and community during the era of the communes and the signorie:

• The oldest seal matrix belonging to the Municipality of Brescia (13th century): On long-term loan thanks to the generosity of a private collector, this matrix bears the the earliest known view of the city to date. The work has also been the subject of innovative diagnostic analyses carried out by the University of Milan and the CNR-ICCOM in Pisa, which revealed that it is made of brass – a material chosen at the time to give it a golden, prestigious appearance.
• Coins minted by the town’s mint: a selection of medieval coins minted in Brescia — including the ‘grosso bresciano dei tre santi’, the ‘denari’ and the ‘sesini’ — which bear witness to the city’s drive towards economic and political emancipation and the evolution of its iconographic symbols (named after Brisia (from the patron saints Faustino and Giovita, right up to the Malatesta lion).

An inclusive and forward-looking museum

The project, promoted by the Municipality of Brescia and the Brescia Musei Foundation edited by Matteo Ferrari (École des Hautes Études in Paris) and the support of arKStudio, was designed with a particular focus on accessibility: thanks to the contribution of the Italian Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted and the support of Citislab, a spin-off from the University of Brescia, the route is equipped with tactile panels to ensure that people with visual impairments can also use it.

Furthermore, the opening of this section marks an ideal opportunity to look ahead to the bicentenary of the discovery of the Winged Victory (1826–2026) and to the major exhibition Treasures. The Great Story of Brescia’s Museums. 1826 | 2026.

Useful information for your visit

• Where: Santa Giulia Museum, Via Musei 55, Brescia.
• When: Permanent exhibition, open from 24 September 2026 during the museum’s opening hours.
• Entrance: Free for Museum Pass holders (included in the permanent exhibition tour).