European Night of Museums in Cremona – Saturday 23 May 2026

On Saturday 23 May 2026 Cremona takes part in the European Night of Museums, offering free evening openings and a varied program aimed at families, young people and visitors of all ages. Museums across the city will host guided tours, workshops, screenings and musical events.

Highlights by museum

• Museo Civico Ala Ponzone – Via Ugolani Dati 4
  • Free access to the Stanze per la Musica and the Sala delle Colonne from 21:00 to 24:00.
  • 15:30 guided visit and children’s workshop (ages 6–10): “Inside the painting: flowers, insects and imagination” (reservation required).
  • Guided tours at 21:30, 22:15 and 23:00 in the Sala delle Colonne focusing on Michele Mascarini’s “Padanian magical expressionism”.
  • The permanent collection and the exhibition “Tribute to Rembrandt – Dutch artists in Cremona” are open only 10:00–17:00 with paid admission.
  • Reservations: [email protected].
• Stanze per la Musica – Via Ugolani Dati 4
  • Free opening 21:00–24:00 with guided tours from 21:30.
  • Musical sessions in the Sala Manfredini at 21:15, 21:45, 22:15 and 22:45: “The guitar from the Baroque to the 20th century”, featuring students from the Claudio Monteverdi Conservatory.
• Natural History Museum – Via Ugolani Dati 4
  • Free opening 09:00–14:00 and 21:00–24:00.
  • Screening loop of the documentary Plastic River in the Sala Puerari from 21:00 to 24:00, in collaboration with the Province of Cremona.
  • Family workshop “The Alchemists of Recycling” from 21:00 to 22:00 with Plastic Free Onlus.
  • Guided visits titled “Visions of Childhood” presented by school teachers as part of the local early education exhibition.
• Museum of Rural Life “Il Cambonino Vecchio” – Viale Cambonino 22
  • Free opening 10:00–19:30.
  • Guided visits to the apiary from 10:00 to 16:00 for World Bee Day activities.
  • 17:00–19:30 “Cultures in dialogue”, a program of multicultural testimonies and connections with local collections.
• Archaeological Museum San Lorenzo – Via San Lorenzo 4
  • Free opening 21:00–24:00.
  • Video-theatre performance Memento from 21:00 to 22:00 (QU.EM.quintelemento & NexTeatro).
  • The installation Antico Presente by Giorgio Tentolini will be on view as part of Cremona Contemporanea’s off-program.
• Museum of the Violin – Piazza Marconi 5
  • Free opening 21:00–24:00.
  • Guided tours of the collections every 15 minutes from 21:00 (last departure 23:30), as part of the “Itineraries among violins”.
  • The exhibition Flop on contemporary illustrators, featuring a special section on Craig Frazier, is open free of charge 21:00–24:00. Bookshop and bistro with extended hours.
• Vertical Museum of the Torrazzo – Piazza del Comune
  • Free opening 20:30–23:30 (last admission 22:45).
  • Planetarium sessions at 21:00, 21:30 and 22:00 in collaboration with the Gruppo Astrofili Cremonesi ODV.
  • Reservations: 0372 495082 or [email protected].

Practical tips: check if workshops or guided tours require prior booking, arrive in good time for evening entries and confirm opening hours for paid exhibitions.

The European Night of Museums offers a chance to explore Cremona’s cultural heritage through activities tailored to different audiences: families, students and enthusiasts of art and science.