Cremona is the world capital of lutherie, the ancient craft of making violins and other stringed instruments once done by Antonio Stradivari and the Amati and Guarneri families, all luthiers of Cremona. Today the tradition continues: around 150 workshops continue to practice this skilled work, and the prestigious International Violin Making School instructs students from all over the world who wish to acquire the skills to become a luthier. In fact, everything in Cremona evokes violins and music, and in September 2013 the Violin Museum was inaugurated. A technologically advanced structure, this museum enables visitors to discover everything about the world of violins, as well as letting them listen to and enjoy the unique “voice” of violins played in an auditorium with perfect acoustics.
Stradivari, violins and music
Traditional Cremonese violin craftsmanship, a UNESCO World Heritage
The traditional Cremonese violin craftsmanship is an ancient craft of construction of stringed instruments: violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. Stringed instruments can be made using different methods, but the one developed in Cremona is considered to be the best in the world. The craft of violin making in Cremona was born in the sixteenth century by Andrea Amati, and continued with the luthiers Antonio Stradivari and Guarneri in the eighteenth century. A unique knowledge handed down over centuries led to this craftsmanship being included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Violin Museum (Museo del Violino, Mdv)
The Violin Museum, MdV, was opened in September 2013 in the newly renovated “Palazzo dell’Arte”, located in “Piazza Marconi”. The MdV tells the story of the violin, it describes the method used for its construction, it tell the stories of Cremona’s families of luthiers, and it exhibits masterpieces from the world’s Master luthiers.
The showpiece of the museum is the Auditorium "Giovanni Arvedi". It is a jewel of acoustic engineering that combines the latest technology with ancient knowledge, and incorporates Cremona’s tradition for violin making. The auditorium has a dual soul: acoustics and architecture blend through the image of the sound wave that propagates in space. The small, round stage has been placed in the center of the auditorium and it provides a clear view and excellent acoustics to each and every one of the 500 spectators.
Visit the official site: www.museodelviolino.org