Collezioni longobarde e identità religiosa. Percorsi museali, oggetti liturgici e restauri a Brescia tra Otto e Novecento

The essay examines the creation of the “barbaric” early medieval section of the “Museo Cristiano” in Brescia, consisting mainly of Lombard works, found during excavations or acquired, the result of post-unification municipal policies; as well as the museumization of ancient works and pieces of Risorgimento age, which connected past and present in an emblematic way. Museums conceived these initiatives as celebratory, educational and teaching tools to increase civic attitudes, through the recovery of city history as a reference for homeland history. In particular, the essay investigates the restyling of the city’s urban plan in line with the museum project, focused on urban renewal through the creation of squares or wide stretch, celebrated by highly symbolic monuments (Arnaldo da Brescia, Garibaldi, Tito Speri, etc.), the introduction of a new homeland toponymy, and the “ad pristinum” transformation of the major medieval complexes for their evocative power (Palazzo Broletto, Duomo Vecchio, monastery of Santa Giulia, castle, etc.), together with the development of new city districts, after the demolition of the walls.