A jewel in the Lombardian crown

A jewel in the Lombardian crown
Cremona (CR)
Magazine: December 2007

Stroll through Cremona at a gentle pace. Our suggested route winds through the historical streets and enables you to savour the beauty and the exquisite fl avour of the city. With your back to the river, proceed towards the centre following viale Po. Continue to corso Vittorio Emanuele, lingering in the gourmet shops. Not to be missed, the Grana Padano. A pause at the bar of the Teatro Ponchielli precedes the arrival in the large piazza Stradivari. From here to the piazza del Comune is a brief walk. The fi rst glimpse of the square is amazing, with the wonderful cathedral and the bell towers. The former was started in 1107, whilst the construction of the Torrazzo, the 112mt bell tower and main symbol of the city, was concluded at the beginning of ‘300. In the tiny streets that lead off the main square it is possible to buy the “cotechino di Cremona”. On a historical note, the lute maker’s workshops are a tradition that is famous worldwide and came into being in 1500 thanks to Andrea Amati, founder of the Lute Institution of Cremona. Last but not least, the traditional sweets like the famous torrone, on sale in the local pastry shops.