Music&Culture

www.cremonahotels.it

Museo del ViolinoGroups visiting MDVAudioguides and guided tours. A de-tailed audioguide and multimedia sta-tions in every room will accompany visitors along their journey through the world of string instruments, allowing them to develop their own modular, flex-ible itineraries. As sensory experiences and the transmission of knowledge in-tersect, both laypeople and expert con-noisseurs will find new material and new inspiration for further investigation. The audioguide in Italian or English is pro-vided free at the entrance, and special-ist guides are available upon request, if booked in advance.Children. At the Museo del Violino, even

Booking essential.Performances on historical violins. Why do the world’s most famous musi-cians choose instruments made by Strad-ivari, Guarneri and Amati? Because of their excellent sound. At the Museo del Violino, it is possible to hear – live – the voices of these masterpieces, entrusted to the expert hands of skilled soloists, offer-ing visitors an experience of intense and unforgettable poetry. Booking essential.Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10 am - 6 pmTicket Office: Tel (+39) 0372 080809Booking: Tel (+39) 0372 801801mail: marketing@museodelviolino.org

the youngest visitors can discover the world of precious and unusual musical instruments and curious objects with a touch of magic about them. A special multimedia itinerary will reveal the fascinating skill of the violin maker, who today, just as in the past, is able to take wood and varnishes prepared with special alchemy and draw from them a sound as sweet, melodious and expressive as the human voice. Workshops and education. The MdV offers a wide range of educational activities and workshops for children and teenagers, who can explore the fascinating world of Cremo-nese string instruments and the artisans who made them. The thematic visits and pro-grammes are based around itineraries differentiated by age and skill level, allowing every-one to discover the pleasure of learning though fun and enjoyable activities.

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Strategical positionCremona is situated in a strategic position because of its centrality compared to the great cities of northern Italy: - 70 km from Garda Lake; - 85 km from Milan; - 70 Km from Parma; - 42 km from Piacenza- 210 km from Venice - 184 km from La Spezia - 150 km from Maggiore Lake

The hotels

Dellearti design HotelVia Bonomelli, 8tel. +39 0372 23131fax +39 0372 21654info@dellearti.comwww.cremonahotels.it

Stars: 4 superior Number of rooms: 33 including 01 junior suite, 02 pent-house suites Ideal for: business stay, holidays, wee-end, for individual guests and little groups.Just 50 m. from Duomo and TorrazzoMeeting rooms: 2

Fitness area and relax, art gallery and free wifi area. Loading and un-loading area. Private and covered garage 10 meters far away. Dellearti Design Hotel is located in viaBonomelli 8, only 50 meters far from “Torrazzo” highest medieval bell tower in Europe, alongside the cathedral and the magnificent Duomo square.All rooms equipped with led tv with mediaset premium channels, fast in- ternet connection via fiber optic, work- desk, mini-bar and safe. A comfortable breakfast room in an exhibition space that houses modern and contemporary works, center of an artistic hub that winds throughout the hotel and the in- ner courtyard.Mezzanine with library and reading room and business center.Guests have access to a meeting room and conferences with 28 places and re- lax services like “Physiotherm” Infrared woody Cabin, Jacuzzi and fitness room.

A courtyard garden reserves another surprise: conceptually it has no walls; three big screens covers the wall with images.The hotel’s adjacent area populated with typical restaurants, bar, confec- tioneries and violin making labs.

The hotels

Hotel ContinentalPiazza Libertà, 26tel. +39 0372 434141fax +39 0372 454873continental@cremonahotels.itwww.cremonahotels.it

Stars: 4Rooms Number: 63 including 7 Studios for Families.Ideal for: Businesses stay, Holiday, week-end, for individual and groups Meeting Rooms: 2Wi-fi area: freeRoof garden Restaurant at 4th floorLa Pizza d’Autore: Small Pizzeria at Hall/entrance levelBreakfast Room at “Bistrot” Honesty Bar Lenny’s

Position: 800 meters from the historical Centre; 1 km from the highway; 1 km from the Trade Fair;Loading and unloading area:in front of the Hotel.Big and free public parking 50 meters from the Hotel (for cars and touristic busses)

The new Hotel Continental proposes big news for all needs. From the historic Hotel in Cremona, a very new Design Hotel, business type, built according to the criteria of the most innovative ener-gy savings with minimal environmental impact and minimal consumption and the following characteristics: 4 inches coat on all facades, photovoltaic system, heat pump, lift with energy recovery, furniture made with environmentally friendly glue.Hotel Continental, is in a strategic position at the entry of Cremona, near the historical center, the highway, the Trade-fair, the football stadium (Zini stadium), the basketball stadium

(PalaRadi) and the railway station.In front of the Hotel the greatest free public parking for cars and touristic busses. Hotel Continental is the best opportunity to lodge big groups. The modern Congress Centre offers a big meeting room that can accommo- date up to 100 people and three small rooms for assemblies.All rooms are bright, have panoramic view and modern equipment.

Roof garden Restaurant offers to our guests a suggestive panorama view of the Torrazzo and the flavors of a traditional local way of cooking. Open to anyone, is ideal for a business breakfast, a romantic dinner or an important celebration, from the birthday party to the wedding.Our staff service is always attentive and friendly and the creativity of our chefs and pastry masters will make any occasion a success.Connected to Hotel Hall, Our Kind Customer can have a smart stay at our welcoming Pizzeria La Pizza d’Autore.

The hotels The hotels

Hotel ImperoPiazza della Pace, 21tel. +39 0372 413013fax +39 0372 457295Impero@cremonahotels.itwww.cremonahotels.it

Stars: 4Rooms: 53Rooms Types: 12 single classic,17 double superior, 19 double classic,3 triple classic, 2 triple superior.Ideal for: business stay, Holiday, week-

end, for individual and group-tours Meeting rooms: 1 - FreeWi-fi area Position: heart of historical centre with Cathedral and Torrazzo viewLoading and unloading area: in front of the Hotel.New and central covered parking(Piazza Marconi), 50 meters from the hotel.

Hotel Impero is located in the medieval heart of Cremona, 50 meters from the famous Piazza del Duomo, the Torraz- zo and the same distance from MDV

International Museum of Violins (www.museodelviolino.org) the best restaurants of the historical center. The Hotel hosts 53 rooms all decorated in the Imperial style and new parquet floorings. Smart and bright, they offer a dignified warmth to the most exigent guests and a suggestive view of the Cathedral and the picturesque pedestrian square in front of the ancient Municipal Building.Services: car parking 50 meters far in the modern covered parking in Piazza

Marconi or private car parking 300 meters away. WI-FI free in all rooms and “Fondriest” bicycles renting . The meeting room Monteverdi can accommodate up to 60 people in theatre style or can be organized in U Shape Style. It is equipped with speakers, microphones, flipchart, fast internet connection and video projector. Breakfast Buffet with typical local products, and awarded cold cuts as prosciutto cotto stella from Negroni. Hotel Impero is the perfect location to know the refined architectonic beauty of the town and to appreciate the extraordinary welcome of its historical, monumental and cultural centre, the violin maker workshops, the Café, the pastry stores with their delicious selection of traditional taste and the old trattorias where you can taste the fine local food.50 meters from the Torrazzo, 50 meters from the Violin International Museum and from the covered parking in Piazza Marconi.

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The Itineraries

The following is a sample of our sug-gested guided (with the assistance of our experienced professional touristic guides) tours in a catch-ment area of at least 1 hour by coach around Cremona.The length and days of this experi-ence will be tailored made to the re-quests of the customers due to their job schedules at EXPO 2015 in Mi-lan.

Day 1: CremonaMorningThe Cathedral, to be astonished by the frescoes of the central nave dating back to the 16th Century: the first are classical, then follow the anti-classical ones and the last ones already man-

neristic: it’s one of the most outstanding cycles of Renaissance painting, that was called “the Sistine Chapel of Northern Italy” by the famous history of arts critic Roberto Longhi.Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall Palace) and its free entrance halls, small picture gallery of the 17th Cen-tury, featuring the masterpiece of the most important painter of the period: Luigi Miradori. Cooking school: how to make marubini (typical local filled pasta) and ... enjoy eating them!AfternoonTheatre Ponchielli: the stage, the galleries, the “ridotto” (hall for resting and chatting after the performances), the royal box, the dressing rooms ... all the secrets of the theatreMDV Museo del Violino Ancient Violin Collection with instruments

made by Stradivari, Amati, Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, audition of an an-cient violin and to discover the secrets of the ancient art of violin making also following the skilled hands of one of the numerous craftsmen of Cremona, the most important market place for vio-lin-making worldwide

Day 2: ParmaMorningThe romanesque Cathedral with the dome decorated by Correggio and the famous Deposition: the first dated sculpture of Benedetto AntelamiThe Baptistery, well-known world-wide for the wonderful decorations both in- side and outsideThe Regio TheatreCooking specialties of the Emilia Romagna Region: torta fritta (fried pasta), prosciutto di parma, tortellini (filled pasta served with butter) and Lambrusco, the red tannic wine …melt-ing fats

Verona'sArena

The River Po

Milano's Duomo

Parma's Duomo

A sample of a cultural Tour around Cremona (catchment area 1 hour by coach)

The Itineraries AfternoonBusseto or Sant’Agata villages, on the Verdi steps. The Romanesque Cathedral of Fidenza: a visit here helps understanding peace and meditation of the romanesqueart. Coming back to Cremona: tasting of Parmigiano reg-giano (seasoned cheese) and culatello.Musical dinner in Cremona.

Day 3: MantovaMorningPiazza Sordello, Palazzo Duca-le, The Bibiena Theatre or Palaz-zo Te planned and decorated by Giulio Romano (great exhibition in 2013) or the navigation on the lakes surrounding the town to enjoy the view of the complex of the castle of San Giorgio.The risotto alla pilota (rice with fresh sausage), traditional popular dish in memory of Tazio Nuvolari.Afternoon:The città ideale (perfect town) of Sabbioneta, belonging to the Unesco heritage. Visit of a workshop of mostarda (fruits or vegetables in a mustard syrup) following the old Re-nessance recipe, with final tasting.

Day 4: Franciacorta and Val CamonicaMorningThe famous Franciacorta: the monastery of San Pietro in Lamosa, the lo- cal park of Torbiere (peat-moss) and a cantina (bottle cellar) of the sparkling Franciacorta wine. The lake fish of Montisola, the peaceful isle in the centre of the Iseo lake, to be reached by ship: no cars, fish-ers, crafts- men and good fish.AfternoonVal Camonica (North of Iseo lake), an interesting valley that has al-ways been independing from Brescia, with some outstanding places: rock art of the middle valley, Unesco heritage, and the numerous churches entirely deco-rated by Pietro da Cemmo (late 15th cen-tury) and by Romanino (16th century).

Day 5: Following the steps of the Romans between Verona and the Garda LakeMorningVerona: the roman city, with the fa-mous Arena, the roman theatre.

Special tasting lunch with Valpolicella wines.AfternoonSirmione and Desenzano, the ro-man villas and the ancient Antonino itinerary

Day 6: MilanMorningDuomo square and the Scala Museum: to know the history of Ital-ian opera The Ultima cena (Last sup-per) of LeonardoAfternoonThe Brera picture gallery or the Sforzesco Castle with the an-cient musical instrument collection.Shopping time and happy hour on

the Navigli (waterways), very close to the wonderful San Lorenzo and Sant’Eustorgio basilicas.

Day 7: Pavia and CremonaMorningThe magnificent Certosa of Pavia. Special tasting lunch with Oltrepo wines. AfternoonVisit of an organ restoration workshop and organ concert in a church of the Cremona district.

Info & Booking:www.cremonahotels.ite-mail: direzione@dellearti.comTelephone. + 39 0372 23131

The Certosa di Pavia (Charterhouse of Pavia -Gratiarum Chartusia)

The Itineraries

Day 1: CremonaThe Cathedral, to be astonished by the frescoes of the central nave dating back to the 16th Century: the first are classi-cal, then follow the anti-classical ones and the last ones already manneristic: it’s one of the most outstanding cycles of Renaissance painting, that was called “the Sistine Chapel of Northern Italy” by the famous history of arts critic Rober-to Longhi. Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall Palace) and its free entrance halls, small picture gallery of the 17th Cen-tury, featuring the masterpiece of the most important painter of the period: Luigi MiradoriWorkshop of the violin-maker: to discover the secrets of this ancient art, following the skilled hands of one of the

numerous craftsmen of Cremona, the most important market place for vio-lin-making worldwideCooking school: how to make maru-bini (typical local filled pasta) and ... enjoy eating them!The Ponchielli Theatre: the stage, the galleries, the “ridotto” (hall for resting and chatting after the performances), the royal box, the dressing rooms ... all the secrets of the theatre. Ancient Vio-lin Collection with instruments made by Stradivari, Amati, Giuseppe Guar-neri del Gesù (since May 2012 in the new Violin Museum of Piazza Marco-ni in the rationalist Palazzo dell’Arte)Audition of an ancient violin or of a new one in the fascinating Baptistery

Day 2: ParmaThe romanesque Cathedral with the dome decorated by Correggio and the

famous Deposition: the first dated sculpture of Benedetto AntelamiThe Baptistery, well-known worldwi-de for the wonderful decorations both inside and outside.The Regio Theatre.Cooking specialties of the Emilia Romagna region: torta fritta (fried pasta), prosciutto di Parma, tortellini (filled pasta served with butter) and the red tannic wine ... melting fats!Busseto or Sant’Agata villages, on the Verdi steps.The romanesque Cathedral of Fi-denza: a visit here helps understanding peace and meditation of the romane-sque artComing back to Cremona: tasting of parmigiano reggiano (seasoned cheese) and culatello.Musical dinner in Cremona.

Day 3: Cremona by bikeThe bikes of the Municipality of Cremo-na are at disposal of groups just in front

Antonio stradivari

Violin's Collection Room for auditions

The Itineraries of the Impero Hotel. This is the perfect way to discover corners and squares of a town like Cremona, completely plain; moreover you can easily reach places that are a little bit far away from the city centre. This itinerary can be made also by coach anyway. The magnifi-cent church of San Sigismondo, build on the spot where the marriage between Bianca Maria Visconti and Francesco Sforza was celebrated, close to the city centre but already surrounded by the cremonese plain, completely covered

with freascoes dating back to 16th and 17th Century. The “New City”, with the Palazzo Cittanova and Sant’Agata church, with the painting of the saint dating back to the 13th Century and the surprising cycle of Giulio Campi frescoes in the apse. Light lunch in a wine-shop back down town. Naviga-tion along the Po river, a relaxing and fascinating one hour trip, discovering the “Great river” secrets, so close and so unique. Or, as an alternative: visit of an organ restoration workshop, with

special audition of an historical instru-ment in the Cremona district. Guided tasting of typical cremonese products and free time for shopping.

Info & Booking:www.cremonahotels.itemail: direzione@cremonahotels.it or continental@cremonahotels.itTel.: +39 0372 23131Fax: +39 0372 21654

Parma’s Regio Theater

Parma’s Baptistery

National Verdi’s Museum @ Busseto

The Itineraries

To get married in Cremona means to live again the romantic experience of a famous couple of the past: Bianca Maria Visconti, the daughter of the Duke of Milan, and Francesco Sfor-za. In 1441 Bianca Maria falls in love with Francesco Sforza, an army leader without noble titles. Her father Filippo Maria Visconti would prefer another son-in-law and opposes the marriage, but Bianca Maria, a brave and self-willed lady, devises a plan: she organi-zes the marriage with the beloved Fran-cesco, thanks to the help of some monks living in a monastery close to the city of Cremona, far away from her father’s eyes, who lives in Milan.After the marriage, Bianca Maria’s fa-ther can do nothing against God’s will

and from that day on it will be the Vi-sconti and Sforza families together that will lead the duchy of Milan. On 25th October 1441 it is in Cremo-na that the celebrations took place, lasting several days, including matches, tournaments and a sumptuous ban-quet, during which the chef invented a sweet with eggs, almonds and honey, reminding of the shape of the Torrazzo, the high tower of the central square of Cremona, symbol of the town. From “Torrione” (medieval name for Torraz-zo) to “Torrone” (Italian word for nou-gat): so that sweet, Torrone, has become one of the symbols of the town.Moreover Bianca Maria donated some money to the monks who had helped her, to build up the magnificent church of San Sigismondo, in homage to the new dynasty.Bianca Maria and Francesco are de-

scribed as a united couple and France-sco speaks frequently in her praise and in many occasions does he appoint her his regent, as it is testified by Francesco’s words: “poniamo a capo di tutta la no-stra provincia l’inclita e illustre nostra consorte Bianca Maria [...] le affidiamo tutto il governo della medesima [pro-vincial], affinché la prudenza, l’equità, la clemenza e la grandezza d’animo, virtù [...] delle quali la nostra consorte è per natura e per educazione grande-mente fornita [...]” (“all our district will be leaded by our excellent and famed wife Bianca Maria [...] to whom we delegate the government of the same [distric]), so that prudence, fairness, mildness and magnanimity, virtues [...] with which our wife is greatly endowed by nature and by education [...]”)Bianca Maria helps her husband when he has to take diplomatic decisions during the whole governing period of Francesco Sforza.The romantic history of Bianca Maria

Bianca Maria Visconti's wedding

The most important day

The Itineraries and Francesco ends in 1466, but the spi-rit of their love is still alive in Cremona. Day 1: the marriage in CremonaThe marriage can be celebrated in the Town Hall Palace, in the elegant Red Hall, with the portraits of Bianca Maria and Francesco Sforza and those of another famous couple of the Middle Ages: Giovanni Baldesio and his wife Berta, or in a charming location in open air. At the end of the celebration a Stradivari violin of the famous Col-lection / Violin Museum will be pla-yed for you, a guide will show you the halls of the Comune, small picture gal-lery of the 17th Century, with the ma-sterpiece of the most important painter of that century in Cremona: Luigi Mi-radori and the Collection of Ancient Violins of Stradivari, Amati and Guar-neri del Gesù. Wedding banquet with typical local dishes and tasting of the famous Torrone (nougat): during the lunch classical music played by a strings quartet.Romantic navigation on the Po river, a relaxing and fascinating one-hour trip to discover the secrets of the longest Italian river, and appreciate a peaceful place, so close to the city, yet so peculiar.Further services: we will help you choo-sing: Flower decorations, Candy-boxes and confetti, Wedding-dresses, Hair-dressing and make-up, Photoes, Wed-ding-rings and jewels, Wedding-car, Personal shopper, Babysitting,We will give you a handbook for all the official procedures before the marriage, a consultant will be at your disposal for the organization of the banquet.We suggest then a romantic trip in the surroundings.

Day 2: CremonaTour by bike along a pretty country road to visit San Sigismondo’s church, close to the city but already surrounded by the fields: it is a jewel with its frescoes dating back to the 16th and 17th Cen-tury. In the altar piece, near the Virgin there are Bianca Maria and France-sco, wearing the wonderful wedding dresses, with the saints to whom the church is dedicated. Everywhere, on the walls, we admire a rich decoration with vegetable elements, putti and many musical instruments that used to be played in the 16th Century. During the

morning tasting of pastries, to appre-ciate the great confectionary tradition of Cremona. The Città Nuova (new town): to be reached by bike, where the Palazzo Cittanova and Sant’Agata’s church are. Special tasting lunch in a typical “trattoria” down town. The Cathedral with the magnificent fre-scoes dating back to the 16th Century, referred to as “the Sistine Chapel of Northern Italy” by the famous history of arts critic Roberto Longhi. Walking up to the top of the Torrazzo tower to appreciate unexpected city corners and the river Po bendsWorkshop of the violin-maker: to di-scover the secrets of this ancient art, following the skilled hands of one of the numerous craftsmen of Cremona, the most important market place for violin-making worldwide.Final private organ concert in a church of the city centre, followed by a roman-tic happy hour in the fascinating Piazza del Comune.

Day 3: VeronaGuided tour of Verona on the steps of Romeo and Juliet

Day 4: CremonaThe Ponchielli theatre: the stage, the galleries, the “ridotto” (hall for resting and chatting after the performances), the royal box, the dressing rooms ... all the secrets of the theatre. Concert of a contemporary violin in the Baptistery, a peaceful and devotional place.Special tasting of typical local special-ties. Driving in a carriage by the side of the Po river.

Day 5: MilanDuomo square and the Scala Museum: to know the history of Italian opera.The Ultima cena (Last supper) of Leo-nardo. The Brera picture gallery or the Sforzesco Castle with the ancient musi-cal instrument collection.Shopping time and happy hour on the Navigli (waterways), very close to the wonderful San Lorenzo and Sant’Eu-storgio basilicas.All the visits with a licensed tourist gui-des.

Romeo and Juliet: the balcony

Events in Cremona

Prose Season from November to March

Concert Season from December to April

Opera Season from October to December

Dance-Ballet Season from February to June

Monteverdi Festival entire month of May

Ponchielli’s Theater Seasons

The most important event in the world for handmade arch musical instruments.Period: late September / early October

Cremona Mondomusica (Fiera di Cremona)

Cremona in Festival. Literature and music. Meetings, readings , shows, workshops, snacks and breakfast with the authorsPeriod: early June

Le Corde dell’Anima (Strings of the soul)

Theatre, dance, music, cabaret in the beautiful Garden Arena.Period: from July to September

Midsummer Festival (Arena Giardino)

The most awaited event by all sweet lovers . The streets and squares of Cremona will be alive with events, shows and tastings in honor of Nougat.Period: November

Festa del Torrone (Nougat Festival)

This fair highlights the best enogastronomic products and their areas of origin.It ‘the most comprehensive national survey-food: you can find over 2,000 product types and more than 250 exhibitors from all over Italy.Period: November

Il Bontà (Fiera di Cremona)

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