San Salvatore, Brescia

[[Image:San salvatore1 brescia.jpg|thumb|250px|Interior of the church.]] '''San Salvatore''' (or '''Santa Giulia''') is a former [[monastery]] in [[Brescia]], [[Lombardy]], northern [[Italy]], now turned into a museum. The monastic complex is famous for the diversity of its architecture which include Roman remains and significant pre-Romanesque, Romanesque and Renaissance buildings. In 2011, it became a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] as part of a group of seven inscribed as [[Longobards in Italy. Places of the power (568-774 A.D.)]]. The monastery is traditionally considered the place where [[Desiderata, wife of Charlemagne|Desiderata]], wife of [[Charlemagne]] and daughter of the Lombard King [[Desiderius]], spent her exile after the annulment of her marriage in 771. ==History== San Salvatore was founded in [[753]] by Desiderius, future king of the [[Lombards]], and his wife Ansa, as a female monastery, his daughter [[Anselperga]] becoming the first abbess. After the Lombard defeat by [[Charlemagne]], San Salvatore maintained its privileges as a royal institution, and enlarged its possessions. In the 12th century most of the edifices were rebuilt or restored in the [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] style, and the oratory of Santa Maria in Solario was erected. In the 15th century all the structures were again restored and a dormitory was added. In [[1599]] the church of Santa Giulia was finished. The monastery was suppressed in [[1798]] after the [[france|French]] invasion of Lombardy, and turned into barracks. It remained in poor states until [[1882]], when it became a Museum of the Christian Age; the decay was however not totally halted before 1966, with a general restoration and the creation of a new Museum of Santa Giulia. ==Overview== The monastery complex includes: *The ''Basilica of San Salvatore'', dating from around the 9th century. It has a nave and two apses, and is located over a pre-existing church, which had a single nave and three apses, and in turn was built over a Roman edifice dating from the 1st century BC, destroyed in the 5th century AD. The bell tower, rebuilt in the 13th-14th century, has frescoes by [[Romanino]]. The interior of the basilica houses frescoes by Paolo da Cailina the Younger, as well as other from the [[Carolingian]] age. The presbytery (converted in the 16th century) is a former nun choir built in [[1466]]. *The ''Oratory of Santa Maria in Solario'', added in the 12th century. It has a square plan with an octagonal [[Lantern (architecture)|lantern]] and small arched [[loggia]]. The second floor is decorated with scenes of the life of [[Jesus]]. *The 16th century church of ''Santa Giulia''. *The museum, including ancient findings dating from the [[Bronze Age]] to Roman times. Among them is the famous "[[Nike (mythology)|Winged Victory]]" statue. There is also a plan showing the probably appearance of the Roman centre of [[Brixia]] at the time of Emperor [[Vespasian]]. The medieval section of the museum houses a crucifix alleged to have belonged to Desiderius. There are also architectural remnants from local buildings now destroyed, such as frescoes from the city's [[Broletto]], a statue of St. Faustine and a fresco cycle by [[Moretto da Brescia]]. Also visible in the complex are some Roman houses ([[domus]]), excavated beneath the former nuns' orchard. ==External links== *[http://www.bresciamusei.com/Pages/en_santa_giulia_city_museum.aspx Museum of Santa Giulia] {{coord missing|Italy}} {{World Heritage Sites in Italy}}