Crema
Visit Crema
The interesting core of Crema Old Town is the “Piazza del Duomo”, which has many buildings, both civic and religious symbols of the city, such as the Cathedral, the Praetorian Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Renaissance “Torrazzo”.
Crema Cathedral, of Gothic-Lombard style and a work of the Masters of Como, dates back to 1341. Inside the cathedral there are great paintings by Guido Reni (1575-1642, a Baroque painter and apprentice of the Flemish painter Denys Calvaert [1540-1619] and of Carracci [a family of Bolognese painters, actives between XVI and XVII century). A very important artist in the church is Vincenzo Civerchio (1470 approx.-1544) - about him and his work Carlo Ridolfi wrote: "[...] Civerchio was a great artist not only in painting but also architecture and carving. He painted the doors of the Cathedral Church of Crema and the Church of the Annunciation (...) Within the Council chamber, there was a work depicting St. Mark, Justice and Temperance; he also painted fresco portraits of many famous men [...] In the collection there are also sculptures of various periods, while in the crypt are the remains of an earlier church destroyed by Barbarossa.
The Praetorian Palace is attached to the 14th-century tower bearing a bas-relief of the Lion of San Marco.
The Town Hall is an elegant Renaissance building (1525) with a portico, a double row of windows like the Venetian style and some coats of old podesta.
There are numerous churches in Crema that deserve to be mentioned and in which are preserved frescoes of remarkable value, such as the Church of SS. Trinity (Via XX Settembre), Our Lady of Grace (Via Seminario), St. Giovanni Battista (Via Matteotti) and St. Benedict (Piazza Garibaldi). The historical features of the small streets and cobbled squares are framed by numerous palaces, as well as the “Teatro San Domenico”, housed in a former church and attached to the Convent of San Domenico. Also remarkable is the circular sanctuary of “Santa Maria della Croce”, a famous work by Bramante (1444-1514), dating back to 1493.
Crema Museum
Be sure to visit the Civic Museum, located in the former Convent of St. Augustine and divided into several sections. The Archaeological section has an extraordinary collection of vessels, presumed to be from the early Middle Ages, recovered in the shores of the Adda and Oglio Rivers. Also interesting is the Art Gallery, which keeps many important works of local painters; in fact, the painting section provides a broad overview of the major artists of Crema and those who have worked for centuries on the territory, with important evidences from the fifteenth and sixteenth century, with frescoes from the church of San Domenico, the former chapel built to the ex Monastery of Dovera and some works by Vincenzo Civerchio and frescoes by A. Buso, a local 16th century painter and apprentice to Polidoro da Caravaggio (c.1500-1543; decorator of Palaces, characterized by a strong classicism).
The 16th century is represented mainly by a "Nativity" by Tommaso Luini, called the “Caravaggino” (1601-1636, so called for his style, which reflects that of Caravaggio [1571-1610]). A "Holy Family" by Carlo Urbino (1525-1585, a local painter of the Mannerist style; we know little about him, except that he worked in Milan and in his city). Some evidence of the Saint Augustine Church, annexed to the convent of Crema and no longer existing is also exhibited as the altarpieces by Carlo Urbino, Palma il Giovane (1544-1628) and the Monk Sollecito Arisi (active between 1591 and 1651). The collection demonstrates finally the modern and contemporary art production, with particular attention to the authors of Crema and its territory.
Events and leisure in Crema
In Crema, as well as contact with an artistic heritage of great value, we can get close to local traditions, since the city, for several years, has launched a series of important events during the year; in particular the “Purification of Mary”, in February, called the “Feast of the ‘Ceriola’”.
Nearby, in the village of St. Mary of the Cross, there is a fair in late March each year. From December to the last week of January it is also possible to visit the “Nativity of Sabbioni”, while in June the town celebrates the Feast of St. Pantaleone, the patron saint of the city and the Diocese of Crema. In mid-August there is the so-called "Tortellata Cremasca", where we can taste typical local dishes; the most typical dish is the “Tortelli Cremaschi”, consisting of ravioli filled with raisins and amaretto. Among other dishes, the so-called " Salva con le Tighe ", where "salva" is a typical cheese of the area of Crema and Lodi, while "Tighe" is a local variety of peppers. Also to enjoy is the so-called “Spongarda”, the typical sweet of the city.
See also history of Crema
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