Palazzo Martinengo
A seventeenth-century noble residence in Brescia’s Forum district, built atop Roman and Iron Age remains and now home to exhibitions and archaeological discovery.
At a glance
Palazzo Martinengo Cesaresco Novarino stands on Piazza del Foro, immediately south of the Capitolium. Once the principal town house of the Martinengo family, it now serves multiple public functions: the Provincial Administration occupies part of the building as offices, while other sections host rotating exhibitions and provide access to an underground archaeological route revealing layers of occupation from the Iron Age through the Roman period.
History
The site’s history stretches back millennia. Archaeological finds within the palace document habitation from the early Iron Age (11th to 5th century BC). During the Roman era, this location formed part of residential and then civic Brixia before being abandoned in the Middle Ages as settlement shifted to areas such as Piazza Paolo VI.
The current palace was built in the mid-seventeenth century by Count Cesare IV Martinengo Cesaresco, who commissioned it over the remains of a fifteenth-century structure. The Martinengo family, originally from Bergamo, had relocated to Brescia during the sixteenth century and acquired numerous properties in the area, including palaces from families such as the Gambara.
In the twentieth century, the building served as headquarters for the Brescia Police before the Provincial Administration purchased and restored it for public use.
What you see
The palace reflects seventeenth-century noble Brescian design, constructed upon and incorporating earlier medieval foundations. Its present form reveals the architectural layering typical of the period, with Renaissance and Baroque elements integrated into the urban fabric of the Forum district.
Cultural significance
Palazzo Martinengo documents the rise and persistence of one of Brescia’s most prominent families while simultaneously offering rare archaeological access to the city’s deep past. The underground route—visible to visitors—connects Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, and medieval occupation layers, making tangible the successive transformations of this civic space from antiquity through the present day.
Key facts
- Address: Via dei Musei, 30, 25121 Brescia
- Coordinates: 45.5395629, 10.2247414
- Phone: 320 013 0694
- Official website: http://amicimartinengo.it/
Practical information
The palace remains partly occupied by provincial administrative offices. Hours and admission policies for exhibitions and the archaeological route are not listed; contact the phone number or official website for current details and visit arrangements.
Getting there
Palazzo Martinengo is located in central Brescia on Via dei Musei, within easy walking distance of the Capitolium and the Piazza del Foro. Check local transport maps for bus and parking options in the historic center.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
See this place and what’s around it →Historical events at this place (3)
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