Cremona, Italy preserves centuries-old craft at the birthplace of the violin

CREMONA, Italy — Cremona, Italy — long considered the birthplace of the violin — continues to honor a musical tradition nearly 500 years old through its master craftsmen, historic cathedral and renowned violin museum.

At the center of Cremona stands a cathedral that has towered over the city for nearly a millennium, serving as a witness to wars, plagues and shifting empires. Inside are towering columns, gilded altars and Renaissance-era frescos.

But Cremona’s most prized heritage isn’t carved in stone. It is crafted in wood.

Mathijs Heyligers, a master violin maker, said the work begins with an intimate understanding of the material. 

“When I observe a piece of wood, I can almost already see the sound that it will produce,” he said. 

Virginia Villa, general director of Cremona’s violin museum, said the city remains defined by its makers.

 “Cremona is the city of the violin makers,” she said.

The museum houses instruments created by early masters, including Amati, Guarneri and Antonio Stradivari, whom Heyligers called “the number one violin maker of all time.” 

Visitors can view and also hear the instruments, which museum curator Riccardo Angeloni described as both a responsibility and a privilege. 

“When I open the case, it really clears my mind,” he said. “They’re the most beautiful instruments in the world.”

The craft continues to inspire new generations. A 22-year-old violinist named Stefan, plays a 1726 Stradivari. 

“My grandfather and my father played the violin,” he said. “And now it’s my turn.”

Heyligers said hearing or playing a Stradivari raises musicians “to a higher level,” comparing the experience to “a hand coming down from heaven.”

Cremona’s violin makers are a close-knit community that collaborates to preserve techniques dating back to the 17th century — ensuring the city’s sound endures. 

As new artists and artisans continue the tradition, the city remains the birthplace of the violin, where its music plays on.