The province of Brescia (; Brescian: ) is a province in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Its capital is the eponymous city of Brescia.

With a population 1,271,759 in an area of across its 205 municipalities, it is the largest province of Lombardy. It is also the 2nd province of the region for the number of inhabitants and 5th in Italy, or the 1st excluding metropolitan cities.

As of 2026, the population is 1,271,759, of which 49.8% are male, and 50.2% are female. Minors make up 15.4% of the population, and seniors make up 23.6%.

Immigration

As of 2025, of the known countries of birth of 1,241,299 residents, the most numerous are: Italy (1,065,005 – 85.8%), Albania (22,815 – 1.8%), India (19,294 – 1.6%), Romania (18,860 – 1.5%), Morocco (17,073 – 1.4%), Pakistan (15,201 – 1.2%), Moldova (10,270 – 0.8%), Senegal (8,557 – 0.7%), Egypt (7,616 – 0.6%).

Government

thumb|right|250px|Broletto Palace in [[Brescia is also the seat of the prefecture]]

The province of Brescia is an administrative body of intermediate level between a comune (municipality) and Lombardy region.

The three main functions devolved to the province of Brescia are:

  • local planning and zoning;
  • provision of local police and fire services;
  • transportation regulation (car registration, maintenance of local roads, etc.).

As an administrative institution, the province of Brescia has its own elected bodies. From 1945 to 1995 the President of the province of Brescia was chosen by the members of the Provincial Council, elected every five years by citizens. From 1995 to 2014, under provisions of the 1993 local administration reform, the President of the Province was chosen by popular election, originally every four, then every five years.

On 3 April 2014, the Italian Chamber of Deputies gave its final approval to the Law n.56/2014 which involves the transformation of the Italian provinces into "institutional bodies of second level". According to the 2014 reform, each province is headed by a President (or Commissioner) assisted by a legislative body, the Provincial Council, and an executive body, the Provincial Executive. President (Commissioner) and members of Council are elected together by mayors and city councilors of each municipality of the province respectively every four and two years. The Executive is chaired by the President (Commissioner) who appoint others members, called assessori. Since 2015, the President (Commissioner) and other members of the Council do not receive a salary.

In each province, there is also a Prefect (prefetto), a representative of the central government who heads an agency called prefettura-ufficio territoriale del governo. The Questor (questore) is the head of State's Police (Polizia di Stato) in the province and his office is called questura. There is also a province's police force depending from local government, called provincial police (polizia provinciale).

This is a list of the presidents of the province since 1945:

{|class="wikitable"

|-

! President

! Term start

! Term end

! class=unsortable| 

! Party

|-

|Arturo Reggio

|align=center|19 May 1945

|align=center|28 May 1951

|

|PLI

|-

|Ercoliano Bazoli

|align=center|28 May 1951

|align=center|10 May 1970

|

|DC

|-

|Mino Martinazzoli

|align=center|10 May 1970

|align=center|22 June 1972

|

|DC

|-

|Tarcisio Gitti

|align=center|22 June 1972

|align=center|15 May 1975

|

|DC

|-

|Bruno Boni

|align=center|15 May 1975

|align=center|12 June 1985

|

|DC

|-

|Vittorio Marniga

|align=center|12 June 1985

|align=center|30 November 1987

|

|PSI

|-

|Costanzo Valli

|align=center|30 November 1987

|align=center|8 May 1995

|

|PSI

|-

|Andrea Lepidi

|align=center|8 May 1995

|align=center|28 June 1999

|bgcolor=pink|

|PPI

|-

|Alberto Cavalli

|align=center|28 June 1999

|align=center|8 June 2009

|

|FI

|-

|Daniele Molgora

|align=center|8 June 2009

|align=center|13 October 2014

|

|LN

|-

|Pier Luigi Mottinelli

|align=center|13 October 2014

|align=center|2 November 2018

|

|PD

|-

|Samuele Alghisi

|align=center|2 November 2018

|align=center|30 January 2023

|

|PD

|-

|Emanuele Moraschini

|align=center|30 January 2023

|align=center|Incumbent

|

|Ind

|}

;Notes

Municipalities

thumb|200px|Map showing the 205 municipalities of the province of Brescia

thumb|200px|Map showing the zones of the province

The municipalities divided into their geographical zone (municipalities with more than 15,000 inhabitants are in bold) are listed below:

  • Capital city area: Brescia, Borgosatollo, Botticino, Bovezzo, Collebeato, Concesio, Gussago, Nave, Rezzato, Roncadelle.
  • Franciacorta: Rovato, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Adro, Cellatica, Capriolo, Coccaglio, Erbusco, Cazzago San Martino, Passirano, Paderno Franciacorta, Castegnato, Rodengo Saiano, Ome, Monticelli Brusati, Polaveno.
  • Lake Iseo: Iseo, Marone, Monte Isola, Paratico, Pisogne, Provaglio d'Iseo, Sale Marasino, Sulzano, Zone.
  • Val Camonica: Darfo Boario Terme, Angolo Terme, Artogne, Berzo Demo, Berzo Inferiore, Bienno, Borno, Braone, Breno, Capo di Ponte, Cedegolo, Cerveno, Ceto, Cevo, Cimbergo, Cividate Camuno, Corteno Golgi, Edolo, Esine, Gianico, Incudine, Losine, Lozio, Malegno, Malonno, Monno, Niardo, Ono San Pietro, Ossimo, Paisco Loveno, Paspardo, Pian Camuno, Piancogno, Pisogne, Ponte di Legno, Saviore dell'Adamello, Sellero, Sonico, Temù, Vezza d'Oglio, Vione.
  • Val Trompia: Lumezzane, Sarezzo, Gardone Val Trompia, Villa Carcina, Marcheno, Bovegno, Collio, Caino, Lodrino, Pezzaze, Tavernole sul Mella, Marmentino, Irma.
  • Valle Sabbia: Gavardo, Vobarno, Prevalle, Villanuova sul Clisi, Roè Volciano, Vestone, Bagolino, Sabbio Chiese, Serle, Muscoline, Odolo, Paitone, Idro, Casto, Agnosine, Preseglie, Bione, Vallio Terme, Barghe, Provaglio Val Sabbia, Mura, Pertica Bassa, Lavenone, Pertica Alta, Treviso Bresciano, Anfo, Capovalle, Nuvolera, Nuvolento.
  • Lake Garda: Desenzano del Garda, Lonato del Garda, Gardone Riviera, Gargnano, Limone sul Garda, Manerba del Garda, Moniga del Garda, Padenghe sul Garda, Salò, San Felice del Benaco, Sirmione, Tignale, Toscolano Maderno, Tremosine, Soiano del Lago, Polpenazze del Garda, Calvagese della Riviera, Puegnago del Garda, Pozzolengo.
  • Bassa Bresciana: Montichiari, Ghedi, Chiari, Acquafredda, Bagnolo Mella, Bedizzole, Mazzano, Calcinato, Calvisano, Carpenedolo, Castenedolo, Fiesse, Flero, Gambara, Gottolengo, Isorella, Leno, Montirone, Poncarale, Remedello, Visano, Berlingo, Castelcovati, Castel Mella, Castrezzato, Comezzano-Cizzago, Maclodio, Orzinuovi, Orzivecchi, Pompiano, Pontoglio, Roccafranca, Rudiano, Travagliato, Trenzano, Urago d'Oglio, Villachiara, Ospitaletto, San Zeno Naviglio, Azzano Mella, Pavone del Mella, Capriano del Colle, Borgo San Giacomo, Cigole, Mairano, Dello, Pralboino, Verolanuova, Verolavecchia, San Gervasio Bresciano, Manerbio, Lograto, Quinzano d'Oglio, Pontevico, Longhena, Offlaga, Barbariga, Berlingo, Torbole Casaglia, Alfianello, San Paolo, Brandico, Seniga.

Municipal government

Here is a list of the municipal government in cities and towns with more than 15,000 inhabitants:

{|class="wikitable"

|-

! Municipality

! Mayor

! class=unsortable| 

! Party

! Executive

! Term

|-

|Brescia

|Laura Castelletti

|

|Ind

|align=center bgcolor=#FFDAE1|PDSIAEV

|2023–2028

|-

|Desenzano del Garda

|Guido Malinverno

|

|FI

|align=center bgcolor=#BEE1F5|FILegaFdI

|2022–2027

|-

|Montichiari

|Marco Togni

|

|Lega

|align=center bgcolor=#BEE1F5|FILegaFdI

|2024–2029

|-

|Lumezzane

|Josehf Facchini

|

|Lega

|align=center bgcolor=#BEE1F5|FILegaFdI

|2024–2029

|-

|Palazzolo sull'Oglio

|Gianmarco Cossandi

|

|PD

|align=center bgcolor=#FFDAE1|PDInd

|2022–2027

|-

|Rovato

|Tiziano Belotti

|

|Lega

|align=center bgcolor=#BEE1F5|FILegaFdI

|2020–2026

|-

|Chiari

|Gabriele Zotti

|

|Lega

|align=center bgcolor=#BEE1F5|FILegaFdI

|2024–2029

|-

|Ghedi

|Federico Casali

|

|Lega

|align=center bgcolor=#BEE1F5|FILegaFdI

|2024–2029

|-

|Gussago

|Giovanni Coccoli

|

|Ind

|align=center bgcolor=#E4E4E4|Ind

|2022–2027

|-

|Lonato del Garda

|Roberto Tardani

|

|FI

|align=center bgcolor=#BEE1F5|FILegaFdI

|2020–2026

|-

|Concesio

|Agostino Damiolini

|

|Lega

|align=center bgcolor=#BEE1F5|FILegaFdI

|2024–2029

|-

|Darfo Boario Terme

|Dario Colossi

|

|Ind

|align=center bgcolor=#E4E4E4|Ind

|2022–2027

|}

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Desenzano del Garda 1 (14579425125).jpg|Desenzano del Garda

File:Foto di Lumezzane .jpg|Lumezzane

File:Montichiari duomo e piazza Conte Treccani.jpg|Montichiari

File:Palazzolo2778.jpg|Palazzolo sull'Oglio

File:Porticato di piazza Cavour - Rovato (Foto Luca Giarelli).jpg|Rovato

File:Lonato Italia.jpg|Lonato del Garda

</gallery>

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Italy - Sirmione.jpg|Sirmione

File:Abend an der Küste von Salo.jpg|Salò

File:Iseo 2.jpg|Iseo

File:PONTE DI LEGNO - SULLO SFONDO IL CASTELLACCIO - panoramio.jpg|Ponte di Legno

</gallery>

Main sights

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

  • Rock Drawings in Valcamonica;
  • Brescia, one of the places of Longobard power;
  • Prehistoric settlements of Lavagnone (Desenzano del Garda), Lugana Vecchia (Sirmione), Lucone (Polpenazze del Garda), San Sivino and Gabbiano (Manerba del Garda).

Castles and fortress

There are many castles and fortress located in:

  • Brescia
  • Sirmione
  • Lonato
  • Montichiari
  • Desenzano
  • Breno
  • Anfo
  • Padenghe sul Garda
  • Moniga del Garda
  • Padernello
  • Pozzolengo
  • Carzago
  • Bornato
  • Drugolo
  • Pontevico
  • Paderno Franciacorta
  • Soiano del Lago

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Castello di Brescia, l'ingresso alla cinta viscontea (5437915503).jpg|Brescia

File:SirmioneCastle.jpg|Sirmione

File:Montichiari castello Bonoris.jpg|Montichiari

File:Castello padernello.jpg|Padernello

File:Castle in Breno Valcamonica.jpg|Breno

File:2018-08-05-Rocca d'Anfo-9890.jpg|Anfo

</gallery>

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Rocca aerea.jpg|Lonato

File:Moniga del Garda Castello 001.JPG|Moniga del Garda

File:Castello Oldofredi-Martinengo ingresso.jpg|Montisola

</gallery>

Other sights

  • Lake Garda, Lake Iseo and Lake Idro;
  • Stelvio National Park;
  • Adamello Regional Park;
  • Alto Garda Bresciano Regional Park;
  • Torbiere del Sebino Natural Reserve;
  • Earth pyramids of Zone Natural Reserve;
  • I Borghi più belli d'Italia: Bienno, Gardone Riviera, Montisola and Tremosine;
  • Grandi Giardini Italiani: Vittoriale degli Italiani, Isola del Garda, Giardino Botanico Andrè Heller, Le Vigne di Bellavista - Franciacorta;
  • Natural monuments of Buco del Frate, Altopiano di Cariadeghe, Baluton and Masso del Permico;
  • Ski resorts of Ponte di Legno, Temù and Montecampione in Valcamonica;
  • Franciacorta wine region;
  • Grottoes of Catullus
  • Lake Baitone

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Novembre 2004 030.jpg|Mount Adamello

File:Riserva Naturale Torbiere del Sebino.jpg|The natural reserve of Torbiere del Sebino

File:Ingresso della Forra a Tremosine b.jpg|Strada della Forra in Tremosine

File:Villa Borghese-Cavazza, Isola del Garda.jpg|Villa Borghese-Cavazza on the Isola del Garda

File:Erbusco.jpg|Vineyards in Franciacorta

</gallery>

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Piramidi di Zone wk13.jpg|Earth pyramids of Zone

File:Vittoriale il complesso monumentale.jpg|Vittoriale degli Italiani

File:Gardasee, Lago di Garda - panoramio (8).jpg|Alto Garda Bresciano Regional Park

File:Dal Rifugio Lissone alla Baita Adamé - panoramio (1).jpg|Adamello Regional Park

File:Grotte di Catullo 02.jpg|Grottoes of Catullus

</gallery>

References

  • Official website
  • Brescia Tourism official site: useful information, guide destination and hotel, airport
  • Scoprire Brescia e la sua provincia