Cremonese Playbook: Your Unrivalled Experience With the Grigiorossi

Everything in Cremona is about music. It could hardly be otherwise in the birthplace of Antonio Stradivari, the greatest luthier of all time, whose violins cost millions.

But football has a similarly rich tradition here, with the likes of Antonio Cabrini, Enrico Chiesa and the late Gianluca Vialli all donning Cremonese’s iconic strip.

In 2025 Jamie Vardy followed in their path and if you are heading here to watch some action, here is all you need to know.

Where To Stay

Cremona is fairly small, so staying Porta Romana means you are almost exactly halfway between the historic city centre and the Stadio Zini, and a just a 20-minute walk from the train station. Ideal if you want everything on your doorstep.

While Cremona does not attract the same high-end travellers that regularly visit nearby Milan and Como, you can still find plenty of options across every price range in terms of hotels, Airbnbs and hostels.

Where To Eat

Trattoria Granatieri offers tasty main dishes for around €8 in a welcoming setting just a five-minute walk from the Stadio Zini, making it the perfect place for a plate of pasta before a game.

Walk slightly further towards the old town and you come across Osteria Pane e Salame (Via Giovanni Maria Platina) which, as the name suggests, specialises in cold cuts and tasty bread. A generous serving of of salami, ham and prosciutto comes in at about €13, while a cheese platter with Cremona’s traditional mustard will cost you €12.

A Cremona institution for over 50 years, La Bottega della Pizza Respina on Corso Mazzini is a favourite among locals, with pizzas starting from €6 and slices available to take away.

If you want something more relaxed, Bistrot San Gallo is right in the middle of town in Corso XX Settembre. A modern trattoria concept that offers simple dishes with an emphasis on local and seasonal produce, the place has quickly become a favourite since launching in 2025. Their take on the gnocchi croccanti al sugo di carne is slightly different and all the more intriguing for it. Croccanti is Italian for crunchy, so the smooth surface is gone and replaced by a harder outside, but the inside is deliciously soft. An extensive wine list and great service ticked the boxes, while main dishes start from €15.

Tucked away in the old town on Via Gerolamo da Cremona, Osteria degli Archi offers a more traditional take, with local dishes such as the marubini ai tre brodi – tiny stuffed pasta, similar to ravioli, and filled with braised beef, pork, and Grana Padano cheese, seasoned with nutmeg – for around €16. This restaurant also includes the intriguing option of a surprise local dish for €20.

If you fancy something more upmarket, Osteria La Sosta just off the main square has a great selection of meat dishes from €22.

Where To Drink

Bar Vigno. A stone’s throw from the Stadio Zini, the bar is a meeting point for supporters, offering beers – from €5 a pint – and wines, along with bottles of Campari soda, the tipple of choice for fans in Italy. In the words of a Cremonese supporter who showed us around town, “for a pre-match drink, Bar Vigno is a must.”

Leave the old town behind and you will stumble on Bar Aporti on Via Manini, which is immediately recognisable for its football stickers on the doors. The bar, with Cremonese memorabilia on the walls, is run by a fan and is the meeting point for some of the elder statesmen of the curva. It offers an excellent selection of bottled beers, so grab yourself a local lager for €4 or a German wheat beer for €5, before walking back towards the old town and the stadium.

Il Gatto e La Volpe is tucked away in one of the cobbled streets of the old town and is slightly more upmarket, yet a cracking Negroni is €6. A glass of local red comes in at €5.

As is the case across Italy, you can always grab a pint in the car park just outside the ground if you leave yourself enough time.

Don’t Forget

Tickets – Cremonese tickets can be bought online via Ticketone’s dedicated club page, or in person at authorised selling points in the city and at the ticket office just outside the Zini.

In Serie A, prices started at €20 for adults and €15 for under-14s. If you are picking up tickets at the stadium or at the ticket office, remember your ID and leave a bit of time as there is only a small collection office.

Kick-off times will be moved for television, so bear that in mind when arranging a trip far in advance.

Merchandise – All merchandise can be bought on the Cremonese official website, or at the Cremonese Store in Via Solferino right by the Torrazzo di Cremona in the old town. There is also a smaller shop at the Stadio Zini which is open on matchdays.

Did You Know?

The late Gianluca Vialli was born in Cremona and began his career with his hometown team, scoring 25 goals in 113 matches in all competitions.

Getting There

Cremona is just over an hour south of Milan by train, which makes Malpensa and Linate airports ideal options. The same goes for Parma and Bergamo which are around 90 minutes away by train, while the journey north from Bologna takes just over two hours.

Need Another Football Fix?

Take your pick. Along with Milan, Parma, Bergamo and Bologna with their five Serie A clubs, Cremona is also just an hour away from Brescia and Piacenza. The former is home to Union Brescia, who are plying their trade in Serie C after being relegated due to financial impropriety under Massimo Cellino, effectively going bust before reforming in the current guise. One of the Serie A regulars in the early 1990s, Piacenza have also fallen on hard times and are marooned in Serie D.