Things to Do and See in Cremona

The city of Cremona preserves the atmosphere and charm of a medieval city better than any other city in Lombardy, with its Romanesque churches, narrow alleys, and peeling stucco. The tour begins at Piazza del Comune, a classic example of a medieval square flanked by the city’s main buildings, such as the Duomo, the Baptistery, and the Palazzo del Comune with its famous Torrazzo—the city’s symbol—which features an internal staircase leading to a breathtaking view of the city and its surroundings. Also worth noting is the Loggia dei Militi, the meeting place of the “Società dei Militi”—an ancient civic society—which consists of two rectangular halls. The tour then moves on to Renaissance and Baroque palaces such as Palazzo Fedri on Corso Matteotti and Palazzo Stanga Trecco on Via Palestre. Many religious buildings house remarkable frescoes by 16th-century painters, such as the churches of St. Sigismund, St. Peter on the Po, and St. Augustine. The temple of Cremona’s culture, however, is the imposing, cathedral-like Palazzo Affaittati, home to the State Library—one of the most important in Lombardy—the Civic Museum, and the Stradivari Museum: the latter, in particular, bears witness to how Stradivari’s art of violin-making is skillfully carried on by artisan workshops and the School of Violin Making. Elsewhere in the province, in Crema, you can admire squares, historic houses nestled close together, aristocratic palaces and green courtyards, monastic buildings, Piazza Duomo, the cathedral, and its bell tower. Soncino is a unique example of a fortified citadel with its imposing fortress; in Casalmaggiore, be sure to visit the Duomo and the monastic complex of Santa Chiara. The province is also rich in villas and historic residences, as in the rest of the region, including Villa Sommi Picenardi in Torre de’ Picenardi, Villa Manfredi in Cicognolo, Villa Maggio-Trecchi in Vho, and Villa Medici del Vascello in San Giovanni in Croce.