Cremona, the city of 80,000 population, is located in Lombardia State in Northern Italy. It takes an hour and forty five minutes’ train ride from Milano. It originated from an ancient Roman fort built against Gallic attack in the 3 rd century B.C.

From the 11th century, it started to enjoy both cultural and economical prosperity. By the end of the 16th century, St. Domenico Cathedral and Cremona school of paintings, as well as early Monteverdi ’ s operas, were completed. Since the early 16th century, the city has been recognized as the birth-place of hand-made masterpiece string instruments.

At the turn of the 16th century, a tradition of making finest string instruments was established by Amati family, the creator of modern violin. As early as in 1530, Andrea Amati opened a shop selling musical instruments in Cremona. In the early 18th century, string instruments with elegant shape and mature sound were being produced. The greatest maestro of Amati family was Nicolo Amati, who trained master craftsmen like Stradivari and Andrea Guarneri.

Stradivari instruments are distinguished for their balanced shape, adequate size and excellent finishing touches. Guarneri family (especially Giuseppe Guarneri) produced the instruments, though not many in numbers, of very powerful tone.
Beside these two famous families, Bergonzi family and Ruggeri family are also classified as members of Cremona school. Their instruments, coated with natural varnish, were rated as the best and this tradition still remains in these days.

Scuola Internazionale di Liuteria has contributed to keeping the tradition of famous Cremonese masterpiece instruments. Cremona of today is still considered as a home of Italian string instruments, with more than 130 craftsmen maintaining the old tradition.

Cremona Violin School is providing systematic education in violin making to produce talented craftsmen. The Stradivari Museum, located about 250m from the Cremona Station, is exhibiting old masterpiece instruments, as well as valuable documents on the history of musical instruments.