This northern Italian city shaped violin-making history, with masters like Stradivari working in its workshops. Renaissance palaces, Baroque churches, and the Teatro Ponchielli line its streets.
Cremona, a city in northern Italy's Lombardy region, has been making violins since the 16th century. Today, more than 150 violin makers work in small workshops throughout the city. In the medieval center, you'll find the 112-meter Torrazzo - Europe's tallest brick bell tower - with its 1583 astronomical clock. Stop by the Museo del Violino to see original Stradivari violins, or watch craftsmen shape maple wood into instruments in their workshops. Don't leave without trying torrone, the local nougat candy made with honey and almonds.
Getting to Cremona
You can reach Cremona by train from Milan in about one hour, with departures every 1-2 hours (€8-12 one way). If you're driving, take the A21 autostrada and park at Piazza Marconi lot - it's free and a 5-minute walk from the cathedral. The nearest airports are Milan Linate (100 km), Bergamo Orio al Serio (98 km), and Parma.
Where to Stay in Central Cremona
Hotel Duomo (€90-120/night) sits 50 meters from the cathedral on a calm street. Bed & Breakfast Il Torrazzo (€70-90/night) has five rooms in a restored 19th-century building, each with views of the bell tower. Albergo Visconti (€65-85/night), a 15-minute walk from the center, includes free bicycle rentals and private parking.
Exploring Piazza del Comune
The main square contains the city's key medieval buildings. Inside the 13th-century Palazzo Comunale (€6 entry), you'll find rooms with original frescoes and a collection of historic violins. The cathedral combines Romanesque architecture from the 1100s with later Gothic and Baroque elements. Look for the 14th-16th century frescoes on the interior walls, particularly the detailed Life of Madonna and Jesus cycle in the central nave.
Violin Making in Cremona
At the Museo del Violino (€12 entry), you can see violins by Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri, plus modern instruments by current Cremona craftsmen. The museum hosts daily concerts at noon using historic instruments. Walk along Via Palestro and Via Chiara Novella to find workshops where violin makers work - many welcome visitors between 10 AM and noon.
Local Food Specialties
Try the gnocchi Vecchia Cremona at Osteria La Sosta (€15) - large baked dumplings with sausage filling, based on a 17th-century recipe. Buy torrone, the local nougat candy, at Sperlari's original shop on Via Solferino. Mostarda, a spicy candied fruit preserve, appears on most restaurant menus alongside meat and cheese plates. For authentic local dishes, visit Hosteria 700 on Via Palestro, where a three-course meal costs around €35.
Day Trips from Cremona
Several cities lie within an hour of Cremona by train. Brescia (45 minutes, €7.50) has well-preserved Roman ruins and Renaissance piazzas. Mantova (1 hour, €8.20) contains the massive Palazzo Ducale with 500 rooms and three artificial lakes. In Emilia-Romagna, both Piacenza and Fidenza are less than an hour away and have medieval churches and local markets worth exploring.
