(Brixiano), a delegation of Venetian Lombardy, bounded on the N.W. by Bergamo, on the N.E. by the Tyrol, on the E. by the Lake of Garda, on the S.E. by Mantua, on the S. by Cremona, and on the S.W. by Lodi. Area 1306 sq. miles. Pop. (1850) 356,225. The northern part, or one-third of the delegation, consists of a chain of mountains, which belong to the Rhaetian Alps; the remainder is part of the great plain of Lombardy. The latter division is highly productive in corn and in mulberry trees, as well as in flax, hemp, and oil. The wine is considered good, but is not sufficient for the domestic consumption. The mountain districts yield iron, lead, copper, marble, granite, and charcoal. The manufactures consist principally of silk, woollen, linen, and cotton goods, iron, steel, glass, and paper wares.

Brescia (the ancient Brixio), the capital of the above delegation, is situated on the Garza, 60 miles E.N.E. of Milan, at the foot of a hill, on the summit of which is a fine old castle, once so strong as to be called the Falcon of Lombardy. The town is well built and flourishing, containing many magnificent buildings, among which are the new cathedral of white marble, begun in 1604 and finished only in 1825, the episcopal palace, palace of justice, many churches richly adorned with works of art, a large theatre, and numerous public fountains. It has also a fine museum of antiquities, public library, college, high-school, atheneum, and numerous charitable institutions. In the vicinity are extensive iron works; and the arms and cutlery made here have long been celebrated as the best in Italy, whence the epithet armata. It has also manufactures of silk, woollen, and linen goods, paper, &c., with numerous oil mills and tanneries. In 1822, a beautiful Roman temple of marble was excavated here. Pop. 35,000.

Brescia is supposed to have been founded by the Etruscans. It was afterwards a town of the Litihi, then of the Cenomani, and finally, a Roman free town. After the fall of the empire it was several times pillaged by the Goths. From the Lombards it passed to the Franks. It was made a free imperial city by Otto the Great, murdered and suffered in the contest between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. It then fell into the power of the Signors of Verona, and in 1378 into the hands of the Milanese. It was taken in 1426 by Carmagnola; besieged by the Milanese general Pidolino in 1438; surrendered by the inhabitants to the French after the battle of Agnano (1509); taken in 1512 by the Venetian general, Andrea Gritti; delivered by Gaston de Foix; besieged again in 1573, 1575, and 1576. From that time it remained under the Venetian dominion till the dissolution of the republic. It was the capital of the department of Mella during the existence of the Chispine republic and the Napoleonic kingdom of Italy, and fell in 1814 under the yoke of Austria. After the revolution of 1849, the inhabitants rose in arms but were overpowered, after a destructive siege, by the troops of Haynau. Brescia has at various times suffered severely from pestilence and epidemics. It was the birthplace of Tartaglia the mathematician, and the writer Mazzucchelli.