Cremona, city, northern Italy, capital of Cremona Province, in Lombardy (Lombardia) Region, on the Po River. It is a busy commercial center, serviced by rail and inland-water carriers. Manufactures include wool, silk, and linen fabrics and machinery, dyestuffs, earthenware, and mustard. Cremona is a bishopric see and is notable for its numerous churches. The most imposing of these is the cathedral (constructed 1107-1490), Lombard Romanesque in style. The interior contains frescoes by Boccaccio Boccaccino, founder of the Cremona school of painting.
Established by the Romans in 218 BC, Cremona soon developed into a prosperous commercial center. The town was destroyed (AD69) by Emperor Vespasian during the struggle against Aulus Vitellius, his rival for the throne. Vespasian subsequently rebuilt the town, which flourished until its destruction (603) by the Lombards. The Lombards reestablished it in 615. Cremona prospered during the Middle Ages. Its subsequent history is marked by frequent changes of overlordship. During the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, Cremona was internationally famous for the violins made there by successive generations of the Amati, Guarneri, and Stradivari families. Population (1997 estimate) 72,192.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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