Brescia is a city in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy with a population of around 200,000.

The city is the administrative capital of the Province of Brescia, one of the largest in Italy, with about 900,000 inhabitants. The ancient city of Brixia, Brescia has been an important regional centre since pre-Roman times and a number of Roman and medieval monuments are preserved, among which is the prominent castle.

The city is at the centre of the third-largest Italian industrial area, concentrating on mechanical and automotive engineering and machine tools. Its companies are typically small or medium- sized enterprises, often with family managements. The financial sector is also a major employer, and the tourist industry is important as well, given the proximity of Lake Garda, Lake Iseo and the Alps.

In 1535, St. Angela Merici founded the Order of Ursulines in Brescia.