Cremona, located 100 km southeast of Milan, is located in the middle of the Po Valley, the great plain that occupies most of the northern Italian territory below the Alps and which is extends from Piedmont to Slovenia.

The city center, entirely pedestrian, has a typically medieval structure enriched by elegant palaces built until 1700. The Cathedral, dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, and its Baptistery, of Romanesque style (12th century), rise in Piazza Duomo, the center of the urban fabric and living space that, since the Middle Ages, has represented the beating heart of the city.

The Piazza del Comune, adjacent to that of the Duomo, is dominated by the Palazzo del Comune and the Torrazzo, a tower from the thirteenth century that is also the symbol of the city.

In Piazza del Comune there is the museum dedicated to the most famous Cremona craft in the world: the master luthier. The most famous Cremonese violinmakers belong to the Stradivari and Amati families, active since the end of 1600, whose violins traveled thousands of kilometers and are played by the most skilled violinists of the world.

The museum, called “The Collection of Violins of the Palazzo del Comune”, is housed in the municipal building and is open every day, except Monday, at 9-18 (weekdays) and 10-18 (holidays). The museum also collects documents, work tools, violin models and memories of famous musicians. Complementary is the visit to the Stradivari Museum in Via Palestro 17, open every day except Monday, at 8.30-17.15 (weekdays) and 9.15-12.15 and 15-18 (holidays).

A visit to Cremona cannot be said to end without the taste of a piece of the famous dessert of the city, the Nougat, a typical Christmas cake for most Italians but present all year round on the tables of the Cremonesi. The Nougat is prepared with honey, sugar, almonds or pistachios and egg white.

It can be white, cream or chocolate color, soft or hard, with or without candied fruit, scented with vanilla or orange blossom water. An ancient pastry shop is on the right of the Duomo, don't forget to shop there and bring small gifts to your friends!