Live The Glamour Travel Series | Brescia, Italy: The Italian Escape That Feels Like a Secret
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There are places in Italy you arrive in with an itinerary. Then there are places you experience slowly with a best friend over an espresso, a long lunch, an aperitivo in the piazza, and a dinner that somehow lasts for hours, like Brescia.
On our recent trip to Northern Italy, we found ourselves in the hometown of a dear friend, Brescia and its surrounding countryside. We discovered historic streets, intimate trattorias, beautiful architecture, local pasta, antique treasures, family dinners, and the unmistakable pleasure of simply sitting down and enjoying the moment.
Just beyond the city, Lake Garda added another layer to the escape with incredible blue lake views, charming towns, and the kind of effortless beauty that makes you want to linger just a little longer. This was Italy at its most authentic, elegant without trying too hard and deeply rooted in tradition.
Our Brescia days began the Italian way: espresso first. There is something about having coffee in Italy that turns an ordinary morning into a ritual. A quick espresso at the bar, a few words exchanged with locals, and then out into the city. We stayed at Hotel Centro Paolo VI, a historic property that gave us the perfect home base for exploring Brescia. Set within an extraordinary former seminary, the hotel blends old-world architecture with the ease of a modern stay.
Lunch in Italy isn't simply a meal. It's a pause.
Our friend took us to so many wonderful spots to eat, including Classio, where the ambiance, food, and company were perfection.
One of the unexpected highlights of our Brescia visit was the Mille Miglia Museum, dedicated to the legendary Italian road race. For anyone who loves fashion, design, automobiles, or Italian craftsmanship, it's a fascinating stop. The museum celebrates not only the history of the Mille Miglia, but the artistry and engineering behind some of the most iconic cars ever created. Old-world glamour and design are everywhere from the clothes we wear to the cars we drive.
Some of the most memorable moments of a trip happened around the family table. Our friend brought us back to what makes Italy so special food and family. Plates passed around the table, stories, laughter, wine, and the feeling that dinner is meant to be enjoyed rather than rushed. There is a warmth to Italian hospitality that can't be replicated anywhere or by anyone.
As the afternoon turned into evening, we joined the locals for one of Italy's greatest traditions: aperitivo.
In the piazza, the atmosphere changes. People gather, friends meet, drinks appear, and suddenly the entire city seems to slow down. This is perhaps one of my favorite things about Italy the understanding that there is always time for one more conversation.
One more espresso.
One more glass of wine.
One more hour at the table.
Lake Garda was the next day and it is the most senic place with shimmering water, mountain views, and picturesque towns. Surrounding the lake is small restaurants, antique shops, historic buildings, and local discoveries that don't necessarily make the typical tourist itinerary.
We had another incredible lunch at Antica Trattoria Miravalle, the kind of meal that makes you want to go back while you are still there. Think traditional Italian cooking, local flavors, and a setting that feels connected to the landscape around it. It's these kinds of restaurants the ones where the food feels personal and the experience feels distinctly local that stay with you long after the trip ends.
Our new family planned a memorable stop was Trattoria Del Gallo, where dinner once again became an experience, like polenta serve table side. The beauty of traveling through this part of Italy is discovering restaurants that feel deeply rooted in their communities.
No Italian escape would be complete without a little shopping. Coming some a lover of wandering streets stopping In every boutique, It did not disappoint. We found a luxurious handbag store with the best leather, a shop where denim and cute tops was a highlight and purchase. and many other shops that bring out the credi card. Along with antique shops in the surrounding area, which we discovered pieces with history and character.
We couldnt miss exploring the Nuovo (new) and old Duomo, right next to each other and centuries old. The city's most striking cathedral and one of its architectural landmarks. Needless to say we cant wait to go back, we onnly just touched the surface with this trip.
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