Museum of Weapons Luigi Martsoli created by Carlo Scarpa and opened in 1988, is located in the dungeon of the castle Brescia - one of the oldest parts of the castle, built in the 14th century during the reign of the Visconti clan. There is exhibited one of the most important European collections of ancient weapons and armor.

The ancient history of the manufacture of weapons in Brescia presented in the museum with the help of 580 items - swords, firearms and items of equipment. All of these things, the oldest of which date back to 1090, the year, have been collected and bequeathed to the city by industrialist Luigi Martsoli, whose name and is now a museum. The greater part of the exhibits related to the 15-18 th centuries, they were collected in Brescia and Milan. Also in the museum you can learn about the military history of the region and see the large-scale military fabric. The main core of the collection was increased by 300 new exhibits - in particular, firearms of the 19th century, passed from the municipal assembly.

Walk ten exhibition halls of the museum in which the exhibits, it is best to start with an introduction to the weapons of the 15th century - it was a time of cavalry, when the helmets and armor were of paramount importance. Among the rarest artifacts of that period - a huge Venetian helmet, balaclava with visor in the shape of a dog's muzzle and the sword of the 13th century - the oldest in the collection.

Collection of weapons of the 16th century reflects the changes taking place in military tactics and methods of warfare. At that time already it required more lightweight and comfortable clothing like armor in maksimilianskom luxurious style that literally "screaming" about themselves using a shiny carved surface. Then the guns started to become a subject not only military, but also an element of status and prestige - is also reflected in the exhibition. Upgrade to "reindeer room" - a cavalry escort to hiking and horse soldiers with halberds and maces - makes a striking impression. And in the Hall of Weapons Deluxe exhibited two round the front panel, one of which is dated 1563, the year - is a work of art: two shields decorated with convex relief with gold highlights and a picture of "Triumph of Bacchus".

An important place in the museum's collection given the congregation halberds, muskets, rifles and other firearms - part of the exhibits is made such recognized gunsmiths as Kominatstso, Cinelli, Dafina and Akvisti. The visitors of the Museum of weapons, interested in art and architecture can admire the frescoes of the Visconti era that decorate the halls of the tower and see the ruins of a Roman temple of the 1st century AD - All that remained of the whole temple complex that once stood on a hill Chidneo.