Brescia, a city of elegant squares and frescoed churches, nevertheless conceals a dark side, made up of public executions, legends and disturbing stories.

Under the Loggia delle Grida, the names of those sentenced to death were shouted out, while the crowd watched the executions as if they were a show. We will talk about the gallows, a symbol of relentless justice, and about crimes that have made the city's headlines.

We will talk about a follower of Lombroso, who studied the skulls of criminals and created a macabre archive of murderers and thieves. And there is no shortage of chilling episodes, such as those who were studied while still alive, or the charnel house at Santa Giulia, where efforts were made to bring the skeletons to the surface as quickly as possible.

Completing the picture is the shadow of the Christian Inquisition, which influenced punishments and trials, intertwining with fear and superstition.

This noir itinerary will take us through squares, churches and loggias to rediscover a different Brescia: one in which justice, blood and faith mingled until they became legend.

Meeting point: In front of Palazzo del Broletto, Via Cardinal Querini, 9, 25121 Brescia BS, Italy

Tour duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

All our guided visits are led by licensed tour guides.

Please arrive 10 minutes before the start of the tour. The tours start right on time.