Day: July 6, 2019

To France and Italy

Saturday July 6th we went and picked up our rental car, packed it up, and drove out of town around10:00am. We enjoyed the lovely Alpine views as the car wove it’s way through the Southern Austrian and Northern Italian mountains. The Dolomite Alps are stunning and everything was so lusciously green.

The Dolomite Alps as you enter Italy from Austria

Our first stop on this two-week long excursion, was Cremona, Italy! Hotel Impero was situated right on the edge of the main square and we had a delicious authentic Italian dinner at Osteria la Sosta.  The food was all locally sourced and handmade and the service friendly.

The main square just outside our hotel
Cobblestone road leading to Osteria la Sosta
Beautiful balcony across from our restaurant

Cremona is a smaller town with classic Lombardy Italian qualities. The Duomo (Cathedral of Cremona) and piazza were charming and the main pedestrian way was paved in cobblestones. The Torrazzo of Cremona (bell tower) is the oldest brick structure in the world reaching a height of112m or 369ft. It was built in 1309.

Walking from the main square to the Duomo Piazza: It was a block or so.
The Torrazzo of Cremona and the Cathedral or Duomo
The Cathedral of Cremona and piazza at dusk. It’s about 9:00 at night. Italians eat supper late.

Cremona is the home of two famous luthiers, Stradivari and Guarneri. Tomorrow we will go to the Museum of the Violin. While meandering around, we saw at least three luthier shops just off the main piazza and also the world-renowned School of Violin Making was just a few blocks from our hotel.

  • Liuteria is the Italian for Luthier
  • This shop was across from our restaurant

I drifted off to sleep listening to the lyrical singsong rhythm of Italian conversations floating up from the cafes outside our open window. Everyone was enjoying a delightful summer’s night!