Eugi Gufo's siteEugi Gufo

Cremona is an open city, so let’s go explore it.

A well-done exploration of a new city should begin at the railway station, because this is the official face with which every city welcomes its guests. Cremona’s station looks large from the outside, but it has only three passenger platforms.

Inside, the building is of extraterrestrial beauty. Or rather, it is the person trying to photograph it who is considered extraterrestrial.

I think it was renovated recently…

I would erect a monument to the surveyor (or whatever professional was responsible for the works) who decided to preserve a very interesting historical detail: the blackboards on which the timetables used to be written in chalk.

In architectural beauty, the station is surpassed only by the central square, where the Duomo stands — perhaps disproportionate in size for a relatively small city. But very beautiful.

According to a local legend, Cremona was founded by Hercules. After telling it, the Cremonese themselves admit: it’s all nonsense.

What is true, for example, is a story of the opposite kind: it is the city that gave rise to a fine tradition of violin makers. The most famous was (in my opinion) Antonio Stradivari.

While some commercial areas of the city are full of stylized violins, the monument in the previous photo is hidden under the arcades of the shed that houses the municipal offices.

But the most beautiful buildings are scattered around, hidden in the strangest places.

Since the architecture of all Lombard cities has typical features shared by all old towns, it is interesting to find the distinctive details of each place. For example: the trash bins look very much like the new-generation ones in Milan. It is obvious that the ashtray was not originally planned and was added later (a victory of reason).

I should also point out that the plant pots are decorated in the same way. Meanwhile, the bicycle railings are nice but small: only four spaces.

The benches are the same as those found in Milan’s parks.

But I also found an improved model (very rare):

What I failed to find is the Cremona subway: it must be hidden at a very great depth… Ground transport, on the other hand, is visible. And judging by the colors, it seems to have arrived from Milan:

Some areas of the city center are full of traps for cyclists.

Storm-water drains must not be traps for wheels! Fortunately, in many areas of Cremona the mistake has already been corrected:

The bins in the historic center are not very attractive, but they are large and easy to empty. The ashtrays, unfortunately, are tiny.

In the semi-central areas there are countless ultra-technological trash bins. I would never have expected to find something like this outside Russian borders…

For the first time in my life I saw a «service» mailbox. I really can’t imagine what it might be used for. It comforts me to know that my grandchildren won’t know what the normal ones are for either.

Well, Cremonese peculiarities end here. If I missed something, let me know! As for me, I followed Garibaldi’s sign and headed toward Milan.

P.S. I almost forgot: the city of Cremona is nice — if you’re in Northern Italy and have a free afternoon, go visit it.