Two hours’ drive south of Milan is Cremona, a pretty spot that gives us plenty of reasons to head south. If you cycle through the alleyways here, you will find authentic Italy, freshly washed laundry outside the kitchen window, open doors revealing concentrated craftsmen, gestures and exclamations wherever you look and so much warmth that you want to get off your bike at every corner and sit down for a chat. Valentina Sacchi would describe her adopted home as more of a large village. The graphic designer has lived here for 13 years and would only leave to move to the seaside.
Hotels in Cremona
The hosts of B&B La Bicicletta are as in love as they were on the first day – not only with each other, but also with cycling, which is why they dedicate their accommodation to the latter. The B&B Mille is located in the old town, beautifully and authentically furnished in Italian style and the perfect starting point for a tour of the city center. The apartments from Visionapartments are stylish and cool, giving you the comforts of a hotel and the coziness of your own home.
B&B La Bicicletta, Via Emanuele Sardegna, 7, Italy www.bblabicicletta.com
B&B Mille, Via dei Mille, 7, Italy, www.bbmille.com
Visionapartments, www.visionapartments.com
Restaurants in Cremona
Those who celebrate the first meal of the day will be happy at Devil’s Sweet, which offers everything from salmon toast to pancakes that turns breakfast into brunch. You can go to Kandoo at lunchtime or in the evening, at least if you can take your time to enjoy the Japanese delicacies. If you want to eat like the Italians do in Cremona, make a reservation at the Trattoria La Lucciola, overlooking the banks of the Po.
Devil’s Sweet, Via Dante, 82a, Italy, www.devilssweets.com
Kandoo, Piazza Luigi Cadorna, 15, Italy, www.kandoosushi.com
Trattoria La Lucciola, Via del Porto, 16, Italy, www.facebook.com
Shopping in Cremona
There are five Cose Cremona boutiques spread throughout the city. And there is a reason for this: the most hyped Italian brands and their latest collections can be found here. At Abelli, you can find the right shoes to go with your new outfit – this is where the locals buy their shoes and celebrate their shopping the way others celebrate going to the hairdresser. Stanga offers bags, rucksacks and everything else that can be made from leather. Also cute: Lovely Viper, whose shelves the owner fills with unique pieces that do justice to her love of fashion and Paris. You could spend hours browsing through the shelves at Timpetill, and one thing is certain: everyone buys at least one book here. Disc-Jockey ’70 is Cremona’s only music store and is located off the beaten track, but it’s worth the short detour. If you’re looking for even more insider tips for cool stores that not everyone knows about, take part in the Social Vintage Mystery Tour, which takes you to stores that tourists never stumble across.
Cose Cremona, Corso Campi, 58/60, Italy, www.coseonline.com
Abelli, Corso Campi, 32, Italy, www.instagram.com
Stanga, Corso Giuseppe Mazzini, 27, Italy, www.stanga.com
Lovely Viper, Corso Garibaldi, 22, Italy, www.instagram.com
Timpetill, Via Mercatello, 50, Italy, www.facebook.com
Disc-Jockey ’70, Via Domenico Bordigallo, 1, Italy, www.facebook.com
Social Vintage Mystery Tour, www.facebook.com
Party in Cremona
The warmer it gets, the more you can feel the zest for life and the desire for music, dancing and partying. If Corona allows it, the Tanta Robba festival attracts young and old to various locations throughout the city, where the party goes wild. Stradeejay takes place in the center every summer, where many local DJs perform their tunes.
Tanta Robba, Via Lungo Po Europa, Italy, www.facebook.com
Stradeejay, www.stradeejay.com
Place to be in Cremona
There’s always something going on in the city center. Corso Campi and Corso Garibaldi are the places to look for bargains, and there are also many cafés and bars for a coffee or refreshment in between. Party animals concentrate on Piazza della Pace and Piazza Stradivari, where clubs, bars and restaurants are located.
Must-do
Especially beautiful: Molo 53, a boat on the city river where people meet for a sundowner and an aperitif.
Molo 53, Via Lungo Po Europa, 12, Italy, www.facebook.ch
Valentina Sacchi
is a graphic designer.
loves animals, music and photography.
hates that time goes by so quickly.
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