23909ITA
You will spend between three and four hours in Cremona.
· You will be with your local guide throughout the visit, which typically includes:
ü short sightseeing of town centre;
ü visit of the “Museo del Violino” a collection of a dozen famous strings (Amati, Stradivari, Guarnieri…) in the newly opened Museum.
ü short concert (“audizione”), at which one of the strings in the collection is played;
ü visit of the workshop of a violin maker. If the group is large, two workshops will have been booked at the same time, and the group will have to be split: TM and local guide will lead one sub-group each and meet back (perhaps in front of the cathedral) once the visit is over. The violin maker will explain how a violin is made and take questions. Workshops are very small, so warn your group that some might have to stand! The visit should take less than an hour.
· The order of the activities will depend on the time of your arrival in Cremona: the “audizione” is at 10am and 12.00pm, and you cannot be late.
· Lunch will be either before or after the visit of the workshop, depending on time: check with local guide. Every Wednesday and Saturday morning there is a wonderful food market around the cathedral – but be aware that is closes before 1pm!
· TM needs no cash: all entrances have been prepaid.
How to get there.
· Exiting the motorway, take Via Mantova. The Coach Parking is at the very end of Via Mantova.
· It is a 10-15 minute walk from the Coach Parking to the Cathedral, where you will probably meet your local guide (however, call in advance to agree meeting point).
· Walk down Via Mantova, past the triangular green space (on your right) in the middle of the large crossing, and turn left into the relatively narrow Corso Matteotti.
· Walk down Corso Matteotti until it meets Via Gerolamo da Cremona at the junction where the BARBACCO restaurant is located, and make the second left: Via Mercatello (a street with a few cafes) will lead you to the back of the Cathedral.
· Walk around the Cathedral (the first impressive facade you see on your left is not the main entrance): walk on past the Torrazzo Bell Tower and you will find yourself in Piazza del Comune: the ideal meeting point is by the lions on either side of the entrance to the Cathedral.
· The “Strings of Palazzo Comunale” are located inside the Town Hall. Cross the square, walk through the arches of the Town Hall, cross the internal courtyard (toilets on your left), and make a sharp left to reach the staircase leading up to the museum.
