Cremona between Violin Making and History

In Cremona, the history of violin making, striking buildings and paths along waterways come together. The Museo del Violino explores five centuries of violin-making history, from Stradivari to the present day. Its exhibits include Stradivari instruments and a reconstruction of a violin-making workshop. Traditional violin making in Cremona is also protected as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Visitors interested in how a string instrument is made can observe part of the work in Cremona’s violin-making workshops and listen to a master violin maker explain the process. Visits to workshops should be arranged through the tourist information service. The information point offers guided tours of the city and violin-making workshops every day; check dates and availability in advance.

The Torrazzo, museums and theatre

The climb up the Torrazzo follows 502 steps to an upper terrace with a 360-degree panorama. The tower also houses the Museo Verticale. Its exhibition explores astronomy and timekeeping, as well as the history and workings of the astronomical clock. The view and exhibition thus connect the panorama over Cremona with a subject that is also explored inside the tower. Check the current access conditions before your visit.

The Museo Civico Ala Ponzone focuses on something different: its section on the Middle Ages and Quattrocento includes sculptures, detached frescoes and ceiling panels, as well as a wide selection of works associated with the Bembo family. The present-day Teatro Amilcare Ponchielli building dates from 1808. Tours may include the auditorium, royal box, stage and artists’ dressing rooms; access depends on the theatre’s schedule and may require a booking.

Getting there and exploring the surrounding area

Public transport serves the historic centre. Bus routes and timetables may change, so check them before travelling. Cremona railway station is served by Trenitalia; train connections and journey times should also be checked before setting off. If travelling by car, Cremona is on the A21: the Cremona and Castelvetro Piacentino exits provide access from the north and south, respectively.

Nearby, Parco del Po e del Morbasco offers three leisure routes along the Cavo Morta, the Morbasco and the Po. The Morbasco route reaches Via del Sale in Cremona via the riverbank embankment. Along the way, it passes meadows, small stands of poplar trees and riverside woodland with dense undergrowth beside the waterway. The surrounding area therefore offers routes with different named waterways and landscapes to explore.

The cycling network listed on Cremona’s tourism portal covers more than 300 kilometres. The routes connect the city centre with the countryside of the province of Cremona and its villages. One example is the Lungo i Navigli Cremonesi route in the northwest of the province: it follows the towpaths of the 14th-century Naviglio civico di Cremona and the 19th-century Canale Vacchelli, and includes the Tombe Morte–Tredici Ponti hydraulic complex. Eighty per cent of the route runs on protected cycle paths; the rest follows quiet secondary roads. Check local route conditions before setting off.

Culture in the province of Cremona

In Soncino, buildings and collections offer insight into different chapters of the town’s history. The Rocca Sforzesca has several underground rooms, including a former prison, as well as an internal staircase leading from the basement to the Torre del Capitano. The Museo della Stampa displays printing presses, type cases and type cabinets in the so-called Casa degli Stampatori. Printing began in Soncino in 1483 with the publication of the first book recorded there, and continued until 1490; in 1488, the printers of Soncino produced a complete Bible.

Pizzighettone offers another perspective on the province’s cultural heritage. The inner areas of its walls and the walkways along the ramparts have been almost completely restored and are open to visitors. The restored area of the former defensive complex is open for walks; events and exhibitions are held in accessible rooms inside the bastions. The arrangements for guided tours may change, so it is worth checking visiting options before travelling.

The region’s character is also shaped by a cheese-making tradition featuring six cheeses from the Cremona area with protected designation of origin (DOP) status: Grana Padano, Provolone Valpadana, Taleggio, Quartirolo Lombardo, Gorgonzola and Salva Cremasco. Along with the museums, buildings and routes, this selection offers different perspectives on Cremona and the province.

Discover more destinations

Drizzona, Stagno Lombardo, Torlino Vimercati, Torre De' Picenardi, Montodine, Vaiano Cremasco, Cansero, Gussola, Rivarolo Del Re, Spino D'adda, San Latino, Offanengo, Ca' De' Mari, Battaglia, Casteldidone, Pizzighettone, Soresina, Vailate, Cignone, Bagnolo Cremasco, Agnadello, San Giovanni in Croce, Boschetto, Pescarolo ed Uniti, Pieve D'olmi, San Bassano, Gerre De' Caprioli, Sospiro, Bordolano, Cicognolo, Crema, Casalmaggiore, Castel Gabbiano, Castelleone, Soncino, Cremona, Costa Santʼ Abramo, Motta Baluffi, Credera, Corte De' Frati, Moscazzano.

For the broader travel overview: Lombardy.