The province of Brescia (; Brescian: ) is a province in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. Its capital is the eponymous city of Brescia.
With a population 1,271,759 in an area of across its 205 municipalities, it is the largest province of Lombardy. It is also the 2nd province of the region for the number of inhabitants and 5th in Italy, or the 1st excluding metropolitan cities. (On the search form, choose the statistical region of the municipality in the Area section, the Region, the Province, and the name of the Municipality)The file URL linking on technical dataset.
It borders the province of Sondrio to the north and north west, the province of Bergamo to the west, the province of Cremona to the south west and south, the province of Mantua to the south. On its northeastern border, Lake Garda—Italy's largest—is divided between Brescia and the neighboring provinces of Verona (Veneto region) and Trentino (Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region).
The province stretches between Lake Iseo in the west, Lake Garda in the east, the Southern Rhaetian Alps in the north and the Lombardian plains in the south. The main rivers of the province are the Oglio, the Mella and the Chiese.
Besides Brescia, other important towns in the province are Travagliato, Darfo Boario Terme, Desenzano del Garda, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Montichiari, Ghedi, Chiari, Rovato, Gussago, Rezzato, Concesio, Orzinuovi, Salò, Gardone Val Trompia and Lumezzane.
Geography The province of Brescia is the largest in the region, boasts three main lakes, Lake Garda, Lake Iseo and Lake Idro, plus several other smaller lakes, three valleys, Val Camonica, Val Trompia and Valle Sabbia, as well as a wide flat area south of the city, known as the Bassa Bresciana, and several hilly areas surrounding the city landscape and extending eastwards towards Veneto and west to Franciacorta.
Due to the altitude and morphological variety and the presence of large lakes, the province includes all kinds of biomes in Europe: from something similar to the maquis shrubland up to the perennial snow of Adamello (with the largest glacier in the Italian Alps).
Valleys The three main valleys on the territory of Brescia are the Val Camonica, crossed by the river Oglio and inserted in the northwestern part of the province from Adamello to Lake Iseo; Val Trompia, the river Mella basin, between the comuni (municipalities) of Concesio and Collio; and the Valle Sabbia which includes the comuni from Serle to Bagolino along the course of the river Chiese.
All the three valleys have the point of union the Croce Domini Pass, which takes the name from the "cross" formed by the union of the three basins.
Lakes Within the province there are eight lakes. The main lake basin, in both dimensional, climatic and cultural terms, is Lake Garda, shared with the Veneto and Trentino regions, which with its of surface is the biggest lake in Italy. Because of its size, the lake has a considerable influence on the climate and the surrounding environment, generating a micro-geographic area in a more mitigated climate both in summer and winter.
Lake Iseo is the second lake of the area, and is situated at about 180 m above sea level, in an area called Sebino, between Val Camonica (north) and Franciacorta (south), which divides the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia.
Lake Idro, the third lake within the provincial territory, is located in Valle Sabbia, on the border between Brescia and the province of Trento, and differs from the other two main lakes for its modest size. The waters of the lake are mainly exploited for the irrigation of crops in contiguous territories, as well as for the production of energy through a small power plant located in the comune of Vobarno.
Other small lakes in the province are: Lago della Vacca (at an elevation of 2,358 m, in one of the coldest points of the province), Lago d'Arno, Lago Aviolo, Lago Baitone, Lago Moro and Lago di Valvestino.
Rivers There are about 45 watercourses crossing the territory of the province, but almost all of them are torrents. The only watercourses that can be defined as real rivers are just three: Oglio, Chiese and Mella; divided between the three main valleys.
Extreme points Highest point: Mount Adamello, Saviore dell'Adamello (3,539 m) Highest settlement: Tonale Pass, Ponte di Legno (1,883 m) Northernmost municipality: Ponte di Legno Southernmost municipality: Fiesse Easternmost municipality: Limone sul Garda Westernmost municipality: Pontoglio
Demographics
As of 2026, the population is 1,271,759, of which 49.8% are male, and 50.2% are female. Minors make up 15.4% of the population, and seniors make up 23.6%. (On the search form, choose the statistical region of the municipality in the Area section, the Region, the Province, and the name of the Municipality)The file URL linking on technical dataset.
Immigration As of 2025, of the known countries of birth of 1,241,299 residents, the most numerous are: Italy (1,065,005 – 85.8%), Albania (22,815 – 1.8%), India (19,294 – 1.6%), Romania (18,860 – 1.5%), Morocco (17,073 – 1.4%), Pakistan (15,201 – 1.2%), Moldova (10,270 – 0.8%), Senegal (8,557 – 0.7%), Egypt (7,616 – 0.6%). (Click on 'View by country of birth', and on the search form, choose the statistical region of the municipality in the Area section, the Region, the Province, and the name of the Municipality)The file URL linking on technical dataset.
Government
The province of Brescia is an administrative body of intermediate level between a comune (municipality) and Lombardy region.
The three main functions devolved to the province of Brescia are: local planning and zoning; provision of local police and fire services; transportation regulation (car registration, maintenance of local roads, etc.).
As an administrative institution, the province of Brescia has its own elected bodies. From 1945 to 1995 the President of the province of Brescia was chosen by the members of the Provincial Council, elected every five years by citizens. From 1995 to 2014, under provisions of the 1993 local administration reform, the President of the Province was chosen by popular election, originally every four, then every five years.
On 3 April 2014, the Italian Chamber of Deputies gave its final approval to the Law n.56/2014 which involves the transformation of the Italian provinces into "institutional bodies of second level". According to the 2014 reform, each province is headed by a President (or Commissioner) assisted by a legislative body, the Provincial Council, and an executive body, the Provincial Executive. President (Commissioner) and members of Council are elected together by mayors and city councilors of each municipality of the province respectively every four and two years. The Executive is chaired by the President (Commissioner) who appoint others members, called assessori. Since 2015, the President (Commissioner) and other members of the Council do not receive a salary.
In each province, there is also a Prefect (prefetto), a representative of the central government who heads an agency called prefettura-ufficio territoriale del governo. The Questor (questore) is the head of State's Police (Polizia di Stato) in the province and his office is called questura. There is also a province's police force depending from local government, called provincial police (polizia provinciale).
List of presidents
This is a list of the presidents of the province since 1951: President Term start Term end PartyErcoliano Bazoli28 May 195110 May 1970DCMino Martinazzoli10 May 197022 June 1972DCTarcisio Gitti22 June 197215 May 1975DCBruno Boni15 May 197512 June 1985DCVittorio Marniga12 June 198530 November 1987PSICostanzo Valli30 November 19878 May 1995PSIAndrea Lepidi8 May 199528 June 1999PPIAlberto Cavalli28 June 19998 June 2009FIDaniele Molgora8 June 200913 October 2014LNPier Luigi Mottinelli13 October 20142 November 2018PDSamuele Alghisi2 November 201830 January 2023PDEmanuele Moraschini30 January 2023IncumbentInd Notes
Municipalities
The municipalities divided into their geographical zone (municipalities with more than 15,000 inhabitants are in bold) are listed below: Capital city area: Brescia, Borgosatollo, Botticino, Bovezzo, Collebeato, Concesio, Gussago, Nave, Rezzato, Roncadelle. Franciacorta: Rovato, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Adro, Cellatica, Capriolo, Coccaglio, Erbusco, Cazzago San Martino, Passirano, Paderno Franciacorta, Castegnato, Rodengo Saiano, Ome, Monticelli Brusati, Polaveno. Lake Iseo: Iseo, Marone, Monte Isola, Paratico, Pisogne, Provaglio d'Iseo, Sale Marasino, Sulzano, Zone. Val Camonica: Darfo Boario Terme, Angolo Terme, Artogne, Berzo Demo, Berzo Inferiore, Bienno, Borno, Braone, Breno, Capo di Ponte, Cedegolo, Cerveno, Ceto, Cevo, Cimbergo, Cividate Camuno, Corteno Golgi, Edolo, Esine, Gianico, Incudine, Losine, Lozio, Malegno, Malonno, Monno, Niardo, Ono San Pietro, Ossimo, Paisco Loveno, Paspardo, Pian Camuno, Piancogno, Pisogne, Ponte di Legno, Saviore dell'Adamello, Sellero, Sonico, Temù, Vezza d'Oglio, Vione. Val Trompia: Lumezzane, Sarezzo, Gardone Val Trompia, Villa Carcina, Marcheno, Bovegno, Collio, Caino, Lodrino, Pezzaze, Tavernole sul Mella, Marmentino, Irma. Valle Sabbia: Gavardo, Vobarno, Prevalle, Villanuova sul Clisi, Roè Volciano, Vestone, Bagolino, Sabbio Chiese, Serle, Muscoline, Odolo, Paitone, Idro, Casto, Agnosine, Preseglie, Bione, Vallio Terme, Barghe, Provaglio Val Sabbia, Mura, Pertica Bassa, Lavenone, Pertica Alta, Treviso Bresciano, Anfo, Capovalle, Nuvolera, Nuvolento. Lake Garda: Desenzano del Garda, Lonato del Garda, Gardone Riviera, Gargnano, Limone sul Garda, Manerba del Garda, Moniga del Garda, Padenghe sul Garda, Salò, San Felice del Benaco, Sirmione, Tignale, Toscolano Maderno, Tremosine, Soiano del Lago, Polpenazze del Garda, Calvagese della Riviera, Puegnago del Garda, Pozzolengo. Bassa Bresciana: Montichiari, Ghedi, Chiari, Acquafredda, Bagnolo Mella, Bedizzole, Mazzano, Calcinato, Calvisano, Carpenedolo, Castenedolo, Fiesse, Flero, Gambara, Gottolengo, Isorella, Leno, Montirone, Poncarale, Remedello, Visano, Berlingo, Castelcovati, Castel Mella, Castrezzato, Comezzano-Cizzago, Maclodio, Orzinuovi, Orzivecchi, Pompiano, Pontoglio, Roccafranca, Rudiano, Travagliato, Trenzano, Urago d'Oglio, Villachiara, Ospitaletto, San Zeno Naviglio, Azzano Mella, Pavone del Mella, Capriano del Colle, Borgo San Giacomo, Cigole, Mairano, Dello, Pralboino, Verolanuova, Verolavecchia, San Gervasio Bresciano, Manerbio, Lograto, Quinzano d'Oglio, Pontevico, Longhena, Offlaga, Barbariga, Berlingo, Torbole Casaglia, Alfianello, San Paolo, Brandico, Seniga.
Municipal government Here is a list of the municipal government in cities and towns with more than 15,000 inhabitants: Municipality Mayor Party Executive TermBresciaLaura CastellettiIndPDSIAEV2023–2028Desenzano del GardaGuido MalinvernoFIFILegaFdI2022–2027MontichiariMarco TogniLegaFILegaFdI2024–2029LumezzaneJosehf FacchiniLegaFILegaFdI2024–2029Palazzolo sull'OglioGianmarco CossandiPDPDInd2022–2027RovatoTiziano BelottiLegaFILegaFdI2020–2026ChiariGabriele ZottiLegaFILegaFdI2024–2029GhediFederico CasaliLegaFILegaFdI2024–2029GussagoGiovanni CoccoliIndInd2022–2027Lonato del GardaRoberto TardaniFIFILegaFdI2020–2026ConcesioAgostino DamioliniLegaFILegaFdI2024–2029Darfo Boario TermeDario ColossiIndInd2022–2027
Gallery
Main sights
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rock Drawings in Valcamonica; Brescia, one of the places of Longobard power; Prehistoric settlements of Lavagnone (Desenzano del Garda), Lugana Vecchia (Sirmione), Lucone (Polpenazze del Garda), San Sivino and Gabbiano (Manerba del Garda).
Castles and fortress There are many castles and fortress located in: Brescia Sirmione Lonato Montichiari Desenzano Breno Anfo Padenghe sul Garda Moniga del Garda Padernello Pozzolengo Carzago Bornato Drugolo Pontevico Paderno Franciacorta Soiano del Lago
Other sights Lake Garda, Lake Iseo and Lake Idro; Stelvio National Park;