At Codogno it hosts 122 works, including paintings, watercolors, drawings, sculptures, ranging from the sixteenth century to the present

Sommi Picenardi Villa is surrounded by Cremona’s countryside and it is 25 km from Cremona. Its name derives, like the one of the municipality and of other places in the area, by the Sommi Picenardi family, an ancient and noble family in Lombardy. The most ancient center is represented by the buildings of the left part, the so called “il castelletto” with the ancient Ghibelline tower which dates probably back to the Middle Ages; in 1526 the entire property passed definitely in the hands of Antonio Maria Picenardi and his family, who maintained it till 1950. Once you have crossed the drawbridge you can enter the big courtyard of the villa, with two big towers which, together with the others at the end of the courtyard, are the only remains of the ancient defense fortress; on the two sides and in front of it there are the main constructions of the villa.The villa Torre de’ Picenardi has always been famous for its park which was in the 19th Century one of the most famous and known all over Italy; the building was constructed thanks to the initiative of Marchesi Ottavio Luigi and Giuseppe Picenardi who, from 1772, have made one of the first and most important English gardens in Italy; some hills were created, with a big lake and some small little ponds, islands, gardens, paths, bridges, avenues, ancient roman remains and original Roman gravestones. The great lateral facade of the villa, oriented towards the square (an art-work of the 18th Century by Faustino Rodi) has at the center of the gable the symbol of the Picenardi family and all the symbols of the families connected to it, supported by two Sforza lions.

Magnificent sixteenth-century complex of 10,000 square meters, formerly the Clarisse Monastery, today a modern multi-purpose structure

The Tinazzo is located in the Northern part of the old road which used to connect Cremona to Bergamo. The name Tinazzo derives from the pond which used to cover the area of the river Oglio. We have some news about the Parkdating back to the 16th Century, but in the 18th Century some new essences were introduced. The little Madonna delle Nevi Church, known as Madonna del Tinazzo, dates back to the same age of the park. It was built in 1510 and it presents a sober hut-shaped facade with a central portal and oculo. The internal part of the church is covered with some votive frescoes which date back to the 16th Century.

Santa Maria delle Grazie Church is located in the old  Calciana Road which connected Bergamo to Cremona. It was built in 1501 by the Carmelite Friars. In 1536 it became the private chapel of Stampa Family. In 1772, after the Edict issued by  Maria Teresa which eliminated the monasteries, the Carmelite Friars had to leave Soncino. Their Church started to deteriorate and in 1864, the Saint from Soncino Paola Elisabetta Cerioli, who founded the Suore della Sacra Famiglia, bought the monastery and the church and completely restored them. The church has a rectangular layout, a single nave and five chapels per side. The internal part is covered with frescos by Giulio Campi, Bernardino and Francesco Carminati and Francesco Scanzi (from Soncino).

The Civic Museum in Pizzighettone was founded in 1907 on the basis of a preexisting legacy of artworks donated by the antique dealer Vincenzo Favenza who was from Cremona and used to live in Venice.This initial legacy was then enriched by other important donations from some private collections which contributed to enrich the Museum’s heritage.  The Museum’s seat is in the Palace of the Quartiere Fino, next to the Library.The Second World War provoked the loss of several objects and historical remains of the Museum which was then closed.The Museum was then opened again in 1969 and now it contains a rich collection of historical weapons and objects connected to the military art.Some documents and remains about the local history will lead the visitor through an interesting archaeological path from the prehistory to the Roman Age. In the Museum you can find some roman vases, objects, ancient pirogues and inscriptions.

Castello con museo d'arte e parco a Varese.

The legend of the coldest days in the year

In full compliance with the regulations in force, the exhibition is suspended till further notice. For the first time you will admire, one next to the other, the two versions of the “Rest on the Flight into Egypt”, two masterpieces by Orazio Gentileschi. An extraordinary exhibition promoted by Cremona Municipality and its Town Museums, curated by Mario Marubbi. Beyond these two great paintings, the first of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Wien and the second belonging to a private collection, the exhibition proposes a selection of other paintings, sculptures, objects in ivory and engravings about the popular theme of the “Flight”, recounted only in the Gosple of Matthew and in the New Testament Apocrypha. Two similar paintings, by Orazio Gentileschi, made one after the other and dedicated to the tale of  the “Rest on the Flight to Egypt". A theme which was wonderfully portrayed by Gentileschi and which attracted several purchasers. In fact, beyond the two versions in Cremona, there are other two paintings dedicated to this theme, one at Louvre and one at the Birmingham Museum. Paintings which are considered among the most interesting of the Italian production of the first part of the 17th Century. The two versions exhibited at Ala Ponzone Picture Gallery date back to the moment when Orazio Gentileschi – probably the most precocious, intelligent and open-minded Caravaggesque painter – was enjoying a moment of enormous international fame. This fame increased in Paris, where he was called to the court of Maria de’ Medici, and then it was amplified in London where he was invited by George Villiers, first duke of  Buckingham. The end of the Kingdom of Charles the First provoked the fall of his powerful minister and his “Flight into Egypt” was auctioned by George Cromwell in Anversa in 1646. It was included in the collections of the Archduke Leopoldo Gugliemo, for his Castle in Prague and then it was sent to the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Wien.Also the second version had a difficult history. After several passages, in the 19th Century, the picture was included in the collection of the Dukes of Buckingham, to substitute the twin painting which was sent to Prague. When it was re-introduced in the market it was included in the collection of Paul Getty in Malibu and today it is one of the masterpieces of a private collection in Mantua. For the first time in history, the two “Buckingham” versions  of the “Rest on the Flight into Egypt” will be displayed one next to the other, thanks to the loan of the Wien Museum which will receive from Cremona Museum the famous “St.Francis in Meditation” by Caravaggio. And, obviously, thanks to the collector who owns the other version of the painting. 

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday till the end of August