The most beautiful villages around Cremona

Between the warm sunshine and the longer days, spring truly is the perfect season for a trip out of town.

If you're not ready to embark on an epic holiday, there are plenty of unknown and overlooked destinations closer to home, ideal for a short getaway. Whether you're planning a spring day trip or a weekend away, the historic villages around Cremona are well worth a visit.

In the heart of the Po Valley, where Lombardy meets Emilia-Romagna, there is a land of fortified towns and agricultural villages, where authenticity, traditions and a relaxed way of life are all alive and well, and where you can enjoy a peaceful and gastronomic getaway far from the hustle and bustle.

A battlefield between warring lords and factions for eight centuries, this area is best known for the elegance and refinement of Cremona, a musical hub famed for its extraordinary delicacies, but also for its artistic treasures and beautifully preserved medieval monuments.

From Soncino Castle to the besieged town of Pizzighettone and from the Ropemakers' Museum in Castelponzone to the fairy-tale landscapes of Gradella, it's high time to put these streets and paths back on the map.

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1. Soncino Castle — Our tour begins in Soncino, a medieval town located around 40 km from Cremona, whose walled historic centre is filled with noble palaces decorated with terracotta friezes. Recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, its most striking feature is Soncino Castle, designed for the Sforza family by Bartolomeo Gadio and constructed between 1473 and 1475.

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2. Pizzighettone: Case Matte and Church of San Pietro — Next stop: Pizzighettone, on the banks of the Adda river, and its recently restored walls, which have recently attracted a large number of visitors. Once used to defend the inhabitants from enemy attacks, the intact fortifications that surround this village are best known for their unique Casematte, a fascinating complex of guardhouses inside some of the best preserved town walls in Lombardy.

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3. Gradella, Pandino — The third stop on our tour is the small village of Gradella, which lies between Rivolta d’Adda and Pandino, at the end of a beautiful tree-lined avenue through the countryside. Added to the prestigious ANCI list of the most beautiful villages in Italy in 2005, it is the only rural village in its category.

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4. Castelponzone, Scandolara Ravara — Our tour of the most beautiful villages around Cremona ends in Castelponzone, a former walled town with ties to the Ponzone family. Nestled between the countryside and the Po river, this quiet and charming village has maintained its Renaissance architecture. Now that the walls have been flattened and the moat of the old castle has been filled, the facades of the buildings have been restored and the ancient cobbled streets have been restored, Castelponzone is ready to show visitors what remains of its precious heritage.

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