Description of the attraction
The Luigi Marzoli Museum of Weapons, created by Carlo Scarpa and opened in 1988, is located in the keep of the castle of Brescia, one of the oldest parts of the castle, built in the 14th century during the reign of the Visconti clan. It houses one of the most important collections of antique weapons and armor in Europe.
The ancient history of the manufacture of weapons in Brescia is presented in the museum with the help of 580 items - swords, firearms and items of equipment. All these things, the oldest of which date back to 1090, were collected and bequeathed to the city by the industrialist Luigi Marzoli, whose name the museum bears today. Most of the exhibits belong to the 15-18th centuries, they were collected in Brescia and Milan. Also in the museum you can get acquainted with the military history of the region and see large-scale military canvases. The main core of the collection has been enlarged with 300 new items - in particular, 19th century firearms that have been transferred from the city collection.
A walk through the ten exhibition halls of the museum, which display exhibits, is best started with an introduction to the 15th century weaponry - this was the time of the cavalry, when helmets and armor were of paramount importance. Among the rarest artifacts from this period are a huge Venetian helmet, a helmet with a visor shaped like a dog's face, and a 13th century sword - the oldest in the collection.
The collection of 16th century weapons reflects changes in military tactics and methods of warfare. At that time, lighter and more comfortable uniforms were already required, such as luxurious armor in the Maximilian style, which literally "screamed" about themselves with the help of a shiny carved surface. At the same time, weapons began to become not only a military item, but also an element of status and prestige - this is also reflected in the exhibition. The reconstruction in the "Deer Room" - a cavalry escort with foot and mounted soldiers with halberds and maces - makes a stunning impression. And in the Hall of Luxurious Arms, two round ceremonial shields are exhibited, one of which is dated 1563 - this is a real work of art: both shields are decorated with a convex relief with gold splashes and the image of the Triumph of Bacchus.
An important place in the museum's collection is given to the collection of halberds, muskets, rifles and other firearms - some of the exhibits were made by such recognized gunsmiths as Cominazzo, Kinelli, Dafino and Aquisti. Also, visitors to the Arms Museum interested in art and architecture can admire the Visconti-era frescoes that adorn the tower's halls and explore the ruins of a 1st century AD Roman temple. - all that remains of the entire temple complex that once stood on Chidneo Hill.
