Skip to content
ENITSign in

Cremona Cathedral and Torrazzo

Cremona's cathedral beside the Torrazzo, Italy's tallest historic brick tower, with its astronomical clock.

  • Cremona
  • Church
Plan your visit
Where
Cremona
Best for
Torrazzo (112.5 m)
Allow
1 hr 30 min
Tickets
From €10
Checked September 2026

Cremona's cathedral pairs a Romanesque marble facade with the Torrazzo, the tower beside it: at 112.5 meters, the tallest historic brick bell tower in Italy, finished with its marble spire in 1309.

On its fourth level is the astronomical clock made between 1583 and 1588 by the Divizioli, 8.2 meters across, which shows the zodiac, the phases of the moon and the solstices; you can climb 502 steps between two concentric towers to a panoramic terrace. Inside the cathedral, Renaissance fresco cycles by Boccaccino, Pordenone and others cover the nave, among the finest in Lombardy. It is the centerpiece of a piazza that also holds the baptistery and the loggia.

Five things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The Torrazzo’s astronomical clockThe Divizioli, 1583 to 1588

    A clock 8.2 meters across that tracks the zodiac, the phases of the moon and the solstices, the kind of machine that made a city proud.Fourth level of the Torrazzo

  2. The Torrazzo climb and terraceBrick tower, 112.5 meters, marble spire finished 1309

    502 steps up between two concentric towers lead to a panoramic terrace over the rooftops and the Po plain.Top of the Torrazzo

  3. Pordenone’s CrucifixionGiovanni Antonio Pordenone, 1520s

    A crowded, theatrical Crucifixion with the drama and muscle of the High Renaissance, hung over the entrance.Counter-facade

  4. Boccaccino’s Stories of the VirginBoccaccio Boccaccino, from 1506

    A calm, finely drawn fresco cycle that Bembo and Melone later finished, running down the nave like a picture book.Nave walls

  5. The Arca of Saints Marcellinus and PeterBenedetto Briosco, 1506

    Six marble reliefs of the saints’ martyrdom, including the legend of the doves.Crypt

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
From €10
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
1 hr 30 min
Best time
Late morning, for the clock and the light on the facade
Getting there
The cathedral and Torrazzo stand together on Piazza del Comune, at the heart of Cremona's pedestrian center, a short walk from the railway station. Park in the garages or on the streets ringing the old core.
Accessibility
The Torrazzo has no lift, so the 502-step climb is not possible for visitors with reduced mobility; the cathedral floor and the museums are more accessible. Contact the diocesan museums for details.

The cathedral itself is free. €10 buys one cumulative ticket, valid 24 hours, for the Torrazzo with its Vertical Museum, the Baptistery and the Diocesan Museum. Visitors with disabilities and a companion enter free. Dress modestly in the cathedral. Last updated September 2026. Prices change, so check the official site before you go.

Buy the cumulative ticket on the piazza rather than queueing at the tower door, and climb early: the stairs are narrow, and the clock room and terrace are far more pleasant before a crowd builds.

Official website
Get directionsGoogle MapsApple Maps

Good to know

How long should you spend at Cremona Cathedral and the Torrazzo?

About 90 minutes: half for the cathedral’s frescoes and crypt, half for the Torrazzo with the climb and the clock.

Is climbing the Torrazzo worth it?

Yes, if you can handle 502 steps. You pass the astronomical clock on the way and finish on a terrace with the best view of Cremona’s red roofs.

Do you need to book Cremona Cathedral and the Torrazzo?

No, tickets are sold at the ticket office. Go in late morning to see the clock and the facade in good light, and avoid the midday sun on the terrace in summer.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

A letter from Italy, once a month.

The places, tables and makers we found worth your time. One email, no noise.

One letter a month. Unsubscribe at any time. We never share your address.

Help us get it right

What is it about?