Holiday apartment in Chiari between canals and culture

Holiday apartment in Chiari between canals and culture

Chiari combines local history, waterways, markets and art. The town lies on the Milan–Venice railway line. In the town itself, canals, historic crafts and the 55-metre-high Torre Civica shape the landscape. To plan your days in Chiari, you can combine the Friday market, the canals and the Pinacoteca Repossi with destinations in the surrounding area.

Canals and historic water engineering shape Chiari

The Chiari area is characterised by a dense network of artificial canals. Old irrigation channels, also known as seriole, feed these canals, which run through the countryside and the town centre. The Roggia Vetra is particularly remarkable: it has been documented since the 10th century and is considered the oldest and most water-rich of Chiari’s irrigation channels. The Seriola Nuova is also one of the defining waterworks. It is considered an outstanding example of water engineering and has carried water towards Franciacorta since 1461.

From the 17th century onwards, the irrigation channels flowing through Chiari supplied energy for mills, sawmills, hammer mills and silk-spinning mills outside the town centre. This former generation of energy connected the waterways with several craft sectors and the development of silk production.

Market traditions and silk history

Chiari’s local market tradition dates back to 1406. A fish market is held in Piazza Zanardelli as part of the Friday market. Local farmers also sell cheese, cured meats, meat, fruit, vegetables, jams and honey from their own production there. In Piazza Zanardelli, the market tradition and locally produced goods come together. The market tradition dates back further than silkworm breeding, which has been practised since the 16th century.

Since the 16th century, silkworm breeding and the craft of reeling silk have been practised in Chiari. Both activities played a decisive role in making Chiari the leading centre of the silk trade in the Province of Brescia.

Art, town landmarks and destinations in the surrounding area

For culturally oriented days, the printmaking collection of the Pinacoteca Repossi offers original prints and valuable copies from important Italian and foreign schools of etching dating from the 15th to the 20th century. The 55-metre-high Torre Civica is also regarded as a prominent town landmark and is considered a symbol of the town of Chiari.

The Villa Mazzotti palace is located in the immediate vicinity of Chiari. The Parco di Villa Abbate, Parco Villa Mazzotti, Parco delle Tre Torri and Parco delle Rogge parks are also nearby. The Castello Quistini castle, Castello di Palazzolo castle and the Galleria Il Minotauro museum are also located in the area around Chiari.

For more travel ideas, you can also explore Moerna, Puegnago Del Garda, Toscolano Maderno, Padenghe Sul Garda, Sulzano, Arias, Marone and Desenzano Del Garda.

To the main travel overview: Brescia.