The Museo di Santa Giulia in Brescia is a UNESCO World Heritage monastery complex built on a Roman temple, containing 3,000 years of urban history: the Winged Victory (1st century AD bronze — the most important Roman bronze in northern Italy), the Cross of Desiderius (8th century Lombard — 212 gems, cameos, glass paste, the finest early medieval metalwork in Italy), Roman mosaics from beneath the monastery floor, and Lombard goldwork that rivals anything in the British Museum. €15. 20 min from Lake Garda.
Highlights: Winged Victory (Roman gallery — bronze, 1.95m, possibly originally a female figure re-adapted as Victoria). Cross of Desiderius (Lombard section — gold, gems, 2 ancient cameos embedded including a 3rd-century portrait). Domus dell'Ortaglia (Roman houses under the monastery, mosaic floors in situ). The monastery church of San Salvatore (8th century Lombard, stucco decorations). Practical: Via dei Musei 81b, Brescia. €15. Open Tue-Sun 10am-6pm. 2h. From Verona: 40 min train. From Milan: 1h. Combine: Santa Giulia + Brescia Roman forum (Capitolium temple, adjacent) + Lake Garda (20 min).