Protagonist of the historical evolution of the violin, Cremonese violinmaking initiated in the second part of the 16th century with Andrea Amati, creating, over three centuries, an evolutive process unique in the world.
In these 300 years many families of violinmakers succeeded one another for several generations: from father to son, from nephew to grand-nephew. These famous families are the Bergonzis, the Guarneris, the Ruggeris and the Stradivaris; dynasties of violin makers more or less well-known, but undoubtedly all relying on the classical tradition of instrument making.
These families became popular in Europe, the noble courts commissioned to the Cremonese violinmakers the instruments for their orchestras, the famous musicians of those times aspired to own an instrument made in Cremona so the name Cremona reached the highest levels.
After the initial splendour there was a decline around the end of the 18th century that lasted all through the 19th century, even if in that period many important violinmakers worked in the city.
