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Cremona - Piazza della Pace
A confluence of rivers, an unusual collection of stretches of water in the evocative landscape of the heart of the Po Valley. This is the province of Cremona. Lying on the left bank of the Po, it is located on the border between Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, encompassed by the rivers Adda, Oglio, part of the Serio and the Po.
The province consists of vast plains broken up by woods and large meadows which, thanks to the canals built by inhabitants in centuries past, has been transformed into an extensive, fertile countryside ideal for agriculture.
The province of Cremona is rich with historic and artistic treasures that allow those who love art and culture to retrace the stages of the historic development of this land; buildings from the medieval period, churches, squares, villas and castles in the alluvial plains.
The city of Cremona is without any doubt the springboard for any tour of the province. Start from Piazza del Comune, a typical medieval square overlooked by the most important buildings of the city, the Duomo, the Baptistery, the Palazzo del Comune with its famous Torrazzo,at 111 metres high, the emblem of the city, and the Loggia dei Militi. The palaces of Fodri and Raimondi date from the Renaissance. The churches of S. Sigismondo, S.Pietro al Po and S. Agostino are also worth visiting. Cremona also owes its fame to the Stradivarius violin, an art continued today in many artisan workshops and the Scuola Liuteria, the School for String Instruments. The Stardivarius Museum hosts a vast collection of instruments and relics from the workshop, Antonio Stradivarius, unique in the world.
Moving on to nearby Crema,there are open spaces, squares, historical houses shoulder to shoulder, aristocratic palaces with verdant courtyards, monastic buildings, Cathedral Square, the Cathedral and its bell tower. This is Crema.
Another jewel of the territory of Cremona are its castles and fortifications, testifying to the flourishing historical past of the province: Soncino a unique example of a citadel with its might fortress; Pizzighettone was a system of fortresses built in the 16th century; Pandino dates from the Visconti era.Among the historical villas are Villa Sommi Picenardi in Torre de’ Picenardi, Villa Manfredi in Cicognolo, Villa Maggio-Trecchi in Vho, Villa Medici del Vascello in San Giovanni in Croce, to mention a few.
Casalmaggiore should be visited with its Duomo and the Monastery of Saint Chiara. Adding to the pleasure of a visit or a walk or bike ride, the Po runs right next to the historic centre!
The charm of these ancient cities is enriched by the unique and evocative beauty of the waters of the rivers Po, Oglio, Serio, and Adda, adorned with long rows of poplars. The environment and nature are firmly protected by the people of Cremona in the parks of Serio and Oglio, the Boscone estate and the Bine haven. Cruise and river boats navigate the Po and the excursion can continue with guided visits of the cities and, why not, some sport fishing.
An exciting way of touring is by renting a pantoon, a floating houseboat for navigating the Po. The visitor can also opt for proper cycling tours that make a trip through the Po Valley countryside unforgettable.
Among these is “The tour of fortified cities and castles,” linking places that have city walls and castles as a way of discovering the province of Cremona. , Some of the places on the circuit, Crema, Soncino and Pizzighettone, are connected by a protected cycle route.
The cuisine of Cremona brings the characteristic tastes of local farms to the dining table: cured pork and sausages, including the renowed garlic-scented salami, cotechino with lentils, culatello hame and all types of pork . One local product is mustard, made here since the Middle Ages, using large slices or whole candied fruit, as opposed to the chopped sort typical of Mantua, with the addition of mustard and must, cooked until thick. Mustard goes very well the rich, boiled meat dishes, from beef to local chicken.
Boiled meats are often used in cooking the “Marurbini in broth,” typical Cremona pasta filled with stew, Mortadella and liver.
Tortellini are also a popular Crema dish, which has a slight sweet aftertaste, Salva cheese, Bertolina, a sweet foaccia with egg and the local dessert, the Spingarda.
From the ancient and noble origins of this land comes Torrone (nougat) which it is said was first made in the year 1441for the great celebrations of the marriage of Bianca Maria Visconti and Francesco Sforza.
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