Cremona

Cremona is really worth a look especially for its old town.Founded by the Romans in the 218 century BC, after the Second Punic War Cremona experienced a great economic growth increasing its importance as cultural and artistic centre. In the following years, after a slow decline until 603, it was conquered by the Longobards.The buildings and monuments on the Council square indicates the political and economical significance of Cremona during the Middle Age.Our tour starts in the Council square, the powerful 111m high tower Torrazzo built between 1267 and 1305. A stair of 487 steps leads to the top pf the tower.Later we visit the “Bertazzola”, a Loggia from the Renaissance period leading to the Dome. The Dome, a prestigious architectural work in Lombardy Romanesque style, was first built in 1107.The square also hosts the Baptistery, an octagonal building from the year 1167, the Loggia dei Militi (13th century), headquarter of the army, and the city council. The “Piano Nobile” hosts also the “violins room”, where the masterpieces of Cremona violinists are on display. In 1567 the great composer Claudio Monterverdi was born here. He established a musical tradition that reached its peak in the 17th and 18th century, when the great Andrea and Nicolò Amati, Giuseppe Guarneri and the unforgettable Antonio Stradivari lived and worked here. After visiting the city center, we will visit a luthier workshop

Half-day – Duration approx. 2,5 hours

• 1 Half-day guided city tour Cremona
• 1 Visit of a luthier workshop