Museo del Violino

Went on a Sunday afternoon. Not crowded at all. We bought the ticket at the entrance and used the lockers free of charge. The museum showcase some of the world's best instruments, which one can listen to simply by scanning the QR code at the display. It has some interactive exhibition and a high technology sound dome. Spent around 45min to finished exploring with two music loving teens. A very enjoyable experience.

Best museum I’ve been so far, recommended whether or not you’re a string musician. Best value for money, you get to see priceless instruments right in front of you with only twelve euros. They also do recitals with one of Stradivari violins everyday at noon, the ticket only costs ten euros.

A small and specific museum dedicated to the art of Violin making and the history behind Cremona’s role in it. Specifically the Stradivarius lineage. Worth a trip to get away from the crowds and brands of Milan and explore.

billion dollar collection of Strad and Avati violins. Nothing much to see if you don’t play the instrument. the audio guide refused to function in english and the staff is rather lackluster. But you go to Cremona to see Strad and Strad you definitely see and hear in this place

Must visit for Ghibli studio and classical music fans. Cremona is mentioned in Whisper of the Hearts (側耳傾聽) - a Studio Ghibli film, which is what prompted our visit the first place! Definitely worth the ticket price for all the exhibitions, from the origins of violin and other String instruments, to the evolution and the history of all the big names! A lot of interactive displays for younger ones - I think they are even interesting for adults too. You get to learn that the inside of violin is not empty at all! Enjoyed our visit for 2-3 hours, learned great deal about the history of Cremona as a town together to contribute to the development of String instruments.

Exceptional museum! I’m not a musician but I still found the violin museum fascinating. So many magnificent instruments beautifully displayed. Don’t miss asking to see inside the drawers where tools, patterns and much more from Stradivarius’s workshop are displayed.

The museum has a relatively small collection of fine instruments on display but is amazing overall and has great and helpful staff. I wish the tool cabinets had good lighting and some notes. The concert at noon was underwhelming. A lovely student who obviously hasn't practiced the pieces played a few cheesy pieces on a famous Stradivari violin. An extra ticket to hear mediocre playing doesn't make sense. Also the Book store is a Gem!

Amazing museum. You learn and see so much about the history of violins, its makers, you get to see and hear real stradivarius and other great instruments, you learn how they are made, you can use all your senses, from touching, seeing, hearing and even smelling... Also nice for families and kids, they offer also concerts, clean toilets, bookshop and friendly staff in a central area. A must.

Fascinating exhibits on the history of violin crafting throughout history. Anyone interested in music, particularly those with an interest in violin music, should visit the museum.

We visited this museum in 2015 and have wanted to come back ever since. It really is a great, modern museum which has excellent displays of violins, violas, and other string instruments. The museum is absolutely stunning! It takes you through Cremona's five-century history of violin making by introducing you to the great masters and their violins, violas and cellos. Step-by-step, the museum describes everything that rotates around the life of the violin. You begin with how it all started; then, moves on to the luthier's workshop, where you can smell the scent of resin and wood. There is an onion shaped room for listening (which was closed on this visit). In the next room, the virtual books speak of Cremona's school of classical music and on a map of Cremona from the Stradivari era you can see the distribution of the shops. Perhaps the best part of the museum is their "Treasure Room," a room entered through heavy tapestry with lighting focused to highlight the superb violins on display. There were several made by Antonio Stradivari and by "del Gesù," among others. Both men lived in Cremona in the early part of the 1700's and knew each other. Bartolomeo Giuseppe Antonio Guarneri ("del Gesù") was an Italian luthier (violin maker) from the Guarneri family of Cremona. He rivals Antonio Stradivari with regard to the respect and reverence accorded his instruments, and for many prominent players and collectors his instruments are the most coveted of all. (Think $2-4 million for a Stradivari and $8-10 million for a "del Gesù."). At the end of your visit, you get to see the Permanent Collection of Contemporary Violin Making. The collection also explores how the modern world has joined the world of the violin with the promotion of the friends of Stradivari network. The last room is dedicated to the violin's role in films. This museum should not be missed. It is truly a treasure. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Took a nice day trip from Milan to come here. I'm a classical musician / violist, and walking around the museum was so much fun! They have exhibits about the history of making stringed instruments, plus a "temple of the gods" room in which are several original Amati, Guarneri, and Strad instruments on display. There are also a couple rooms showcasing modern instruments that have won awards. Also on the premises are an audio & acoustic lab for scientific analyses of instruments, and a well-designed recital hall.

This place was a lot of fun! As an amateur violinist, I really enjoyed some of the history, some gorgeous violins they have on display (though it hurts my soul to see Stradivari sitting in boxes and not being played...), and hearing clips of music played from some of the instruments on display. Overall it was a lot of fun. For those who are completely unfamiliar with violins (and cellos, basses, etc.), there are some exhibits that go in-depth with some of the basic parts and methods that luthier's use to make the instruments, which my family found to be lots of fun!