Brescia is a great jumping-off point for discovering the beauty of Italy’s lake district. Lake Garda is the biggest lake in Italy and is well-known for its pretty lakeside towns and villages, including the excellent windsurfing and sailing offers. Take the regular train (a short 15 minute trip) from Brescia to Desenzano del Garda; from Desenzano there are local buses, and lake ferries.

Do you want to challenge your creativity and intelligence under pressure? Call some friends and spend a day at BrainFAQ, an escape game where you will face different scenarios and stories such as escaping from a psychiatric hospital unlocking mechanisms and solving puzzles!

Works on Brindisi’s impressive Cathedral began in the 11th century and it was rebuilt in the mid-18th century. Parts of the original building, including a twelfth-century mosaic floor, can still be seen. Inside you can see the altars in poly-chrome marble commissioned, the balustrades and the majolica floor.

The Vincent van Gogh House: a living arts centre in the birthplace of Brabant’s most famous artist ever, stands on the spot where Vincent van Gogh came into the world on 30 March 1853. The protestant Van Gogh spent his childhood years in catholic Zundert, not far from the Belgian border. A reticent and introvert boy, he was educated at home and it soon became clear that Vincent was ‘different’. In the Vincent van GoghHuis you can experience how his time in Zundert moulded him and eventually enabled him to mature to become a world-famous artist. “A must see if you want to know Van Gogh” Vincent’s life had a tough beginning. As the son of the minister Theodorus van Gogh, he quickly became an outsider in the catholic village. He could often be found in the large garden with his younger brother Theo. He would have a wonderful time outdoors, but could also take comfort in it. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why the countryside played such a large role in Van Gogh’s later work? More than a museum In the permanent presentation ‘Vincent van Gogh – the Roots of a Master’, Vincent will take you by the hand and lead you through a re-enactment of his youth and you can learn more about his struggle with faith. Changing exhibitions show the enormous influence of Van Gogh on 20th and 21st century artists, modern art enthusiasts are therefore very much catered for. In addition, the Van GoghHuis has an artist in residence scheme, where an artist can literally step, and live, in Van Gogh’s footsteps every day! Heritage locations in Brabant The Vincent van GoghHuis has its own VVV (Tourist Information) counter and is of course one of the five Van Gogh Heritage locations in Brabant. You can also get to the Van GoghHuis by bike via the Van Gogh Cycle Route that connects all the heritage locations in Brabant.