'Due Colonne' of Cremona; an Undiscovered Italian Town

• Great hosts, great apartment, great town!

  Great hosts, great apartment, great town!

  • Guest Janet and Larry
  • Date of stay 05/21/08
  • Review Submitted 06/16/08
  Due Colonne is indeed a wonderful place to stay. We were there for a week in May. The photos on the website represent the apartment perfectly, and Marco and his parents were enthusiastic hosts and very easy to deal with. Like others, we really appreciated the washing machine! The building was very quiet; there was some occasional noise from the bar at the corner when we had the windows open in the evening. We had a memorable meal (very reasonably priced, we thought) at Hosteria 700 in Piazza Gallina and enjoyed a pizza at Pomorodo, just across the street from the apartment. Good lunch places are the cafeteria 44 Piatti at Via Torriani 11 (thanks, Lonely Planet) and Piadineria on Via Platina (Rough Guide). Another piadineria is near the west end of Corso Vittoria Emanuele. Our favorite prosecco stop was Gelateria Pierrot (great gelato, too!). Also check out Gelateria Principe at the east end of Viale Trento e Trieste. A third good one is Casa del Gelato, Corso V. Emanuele 59/61. We were lucky to hear a concert at Teatro Ponchielli: Kurt Masur conducting an orchestra of young Italian conservatory-trained musicians who were fabulous. The audience even demanded an encore. Hearing the "Cremonese" Stradivarius played was also a treat. On our seventh trip to Italy, we finally made it to Cremona and are so glad we did! We would love to return.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, age 55+, tourists without a car, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 8/9

• The perfect place in Cremona!

  The perfect place in Cremona!

  • Guest slomartire in nc
  • Date of stay 10/23/12
  • Review Submitted 11/05/12
  Everything about Due Colonne is outstanding. I have stayed in many vacation properties, and Due Colonne ranks among the best. The apartment is spacious, bright, spotlessly clean and comfortable -- truly a home away from home. The location is superb -- literally steps to shops, restaurants, cafes, markets, the magnificent cathedral and tower. During my 10-day stay, I never tired of walking through the lovely streets and piazzas. Mark's mother was waiting for me at the apartment when I arrived, and she was most gracious in providing me all the information I needed about the apartment, and then to find my way to the supermarket, fish market, and shops. It is an easy walk to the train station for day trips, or to the car rental agency. Visits to the small villages of Pizzighettone and Castell'Arquato are recommended. Cremona is a simply delightful city -- small, elegant, walkable, and a most worthy destination for seeing beautiful monuments, shopping, music and, of course, eating. Cremona and Due Colonne are an unbeatable combination, and I recommend them highly!

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car, girls getaway.

  Owner response: You perfectly summarized why we (as the owners) love Cremona and Due Colonne!! You also named one of my favorite spots to visit, Castell'Arquato!! I guarantee you, tourists who have visited Italy or are thinking of visiting Italy will likely never see this small medieval village on a hill. . . but you will if you visit Cremona!! Again, a way to see Italy without all the tourists!!!

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• Great apartment in a most convenient location.

  Great apartment in a most convenient location.

  • Guest David R.
  • Date of stay 09/07/12
  • Review Submitted 09/17/12
  Due Colonne met all our hopes and expectations. Its location could not be more convenient. It took two minutes to go downstairs to the panificio to buy bread or panini for breakfast. A Carrefour supermarket is four minutes walk away for those necessities like bottled water or milk. The main Piazza del Comune, with the duomo and the Torrazzo is five minutes walk. The apartment was sparkling clean, and very quiet despite its location next to the Corso. Air conditioning was a great benefit as it was very warm outside when we arrived. Mark's parents were very kind and met us at the station - most welcome after three and a half hours train travel. Recommended!

  Owner response: Thank you so much for your kind words about Due Colonne! I especially appreciate hearing the praise for my parents. My mother is very particular about keeping the condo super clean!! I'm also glad you mentioned the convenient location. . . it is a perfect place to "get away from it all" and live the way the locals live!!

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• A beautiful apartment in a beautiful city

  A beautiful apartment in a beautiful city

  • Guest veronica a.
  • Date of stay 05/25/12
  • Review Submitted 06/11/12
  My husband and I were looking for a place to stay in Cremona for our honeymoon and we couldn't be happier to find this apartment. The reviews were terrific and we decided to make Cremona our base (for a week), and that we would take day trips to surrounding cities, instead of traveling to different cities every couple of days lugging our suitcases. When we arrived, we were so happy to find that this apartment lived up to our expectations. "Due Colonne" is a beautiful apartment, perfectly located in the central part of the city. It is very clean, stylish and well-maintained. What's more, it comes fully-furnished with modern amenities. We were able to cook a couple of small meals and do laundry. It is just like coming home to our own house! Upon our arrival at the train station, we were picked up by the owner's parents, which is super nice, as we have never been to the city and didn't know what ground transportations would be available to us. We love the city of Cremona. My husband is a violinist so we visited the Stradivari museum, his collections, his house and his monument. The owner also provided a binder full of information (including a city map) about the local shops and other sights to see. The clock tower is worth the climb. We did it (it was not easy) and the view from the top was fantastic! We also attended an early-music concert as part of the Monteverdi Festival and enjoyed it tremendously. We went at the end of May and the weather was perfect. There are tons of sidewalk cafes and outdoor restaurants and they all have excellent cappuccino. Also, everything in Cremona is within walking distance. The walk from the apartment to the train station is about 20 minutes. From Cremona, we took day trips to Brescia, Bergamo, Milan and Venice by train. It was very convenient and affordable. I would definitely recommend this to all of our musical friends and families. Well, we have actually talked about going back and staying at this exact same apartment again!

  Owner response: Thank you for your informative review! Cremona is a special place to visit on its own and a great place from which to venture forth! My parents work hard to make sure Due Colonne is clean and comfortable for our guests and sometimes they are even able to meet guests at the train station! Yes, please share the word with other music lovers and others who love Italy!!

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• Perfect home for your stay in Cremona

  Perfect home for your stay in Cremona

  • Guest Lauren W.
  • Date of stay 05/12/12
  • Review Submitted 06/06/12
  We are two friends who are frequent travelers to Italy and we often rent apartments. Due Colonne is one of our favorites. It is in a terrific location for exploring Cremona, getting groceries and wine, and for walking to the train station for day trips to other towns. The owner was very helpful responding to our questions and requests prior to arrival and his parents were the best welcoming committee ever - even with our insufficient skills speaking Italian. The apartment was spotless and had everything we needed. The bedroom/loft is spacious, the bathroom sunny and light and the hideabed is comfortable and easy to use. Should we return to Cremona, this is where we would want to stay.

  Owner response: Thank you so much Lauren for your warm words about my parents. . . they love welcoming people from all over the world!! We're happy that you enjoyed Due Colonne and Cremona! It is really a wonderful City from which to explore the north by train and a relaxing and beautiful place to return each day!

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• Pleasant Atmosphere of Cremona

  Pleasant Atmosphere of Cremona

  • Guest Alexander C.
  • Date of stay 04/03/12
  • Review Submitted 04/21/12
  We enjoyed very much our stay in Cremona. The apartment is modern, and it has a very nice high ceiling. We liked its design and style. It is spacy, clean and convenient for living. Everything is included. The apartment is located in a nice area and near to everything: the Cathedral and the Tower, Teatro di Ponchielli, Stradivari’s Museum, Archeological museum etc… from 5 to 15 minutes’ walk. Nearby are good local stores: fresh bread is just in the corner, a supermarket is also very close. An elevator is very convenient. In the apartment we found a small good library and helpful collections of maps and tourist information. For example, a good map of Mantova from this collection helped us both in orientation and in learning its sightseeings. Mantova is an interesting place and is relatively close by train. There is also a small stereo system which we used to play CDs we bought in Cremona. It added to the atmosphere of our stay in the city. ...Our correspondence with Marco was always efficient and enjoyable.

  Owner response: Thank you for your review! Our guests often point out how close Due Colonne is to everything. It really is in the heart of historic down town Cremona! Thank you for pointing out some of the amenities at the condo. Recently, guests have noted how fast the wireless internet access is! Thanks again, Marco.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Living like a Cremonese

  Living like a Cremonese

  • Guest brad b.
  • Date of stay 12/17/11
  • Review Submitted 01/19/12
  My Wife and I had a wonderful stay at Due Colonne in December. The apartment was spotless, it has a queen-size comfortable bed. We rented the self-catering apartment here for three weeks in winter while visiting friends and family, no need to worry because it is a very warm apartment, spacious and cozy. As the other reviews indicate there are plenty of Cafes and restaurants within very short walking distance, it's in a good location where you don't need a car to get around. We really loved our stay here in Cremona, It has a lovely park, city centre and piazza. It's a good place for shopping with both high-end shops and outdoor markets and it has a beautiful church, plus the famous tower ( the view is worth the climb). We highly recommend Due Colonne and we would happily stay there again on our next trip to Cremona!

  Owner response: Thank you so much! Your review expresses why we love Cremona so much. . . it is a taste of the Italian way of life without all the tourists in other parts of Italy. . . the beauty of Italy with the locals. . . the Cremonese!!!

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• Perfect - Better Than a Hotel

  Perfect - Better Than a Hotel

  • Guest Tina S.
  • Date of stay 09/23/11
  • Review Submitted 01/08/12
  All of the positive comments you read in these reviews are accurate so any qualms you have can be allayed. The apt is truly larger than it appears in the photos and is extremely well-thought out and comfortably furnished. What you don't see in the photos is a small room off the bedroom that contains an additional armoire, full-length mirror, and dresser. How delightful for two women sharing the place! Specific items that were appreciated were the fabulous WiFi (I was able to read the NY Times online every morning while having a cup of coffee); the washing machine (we went through a lot of clothes because it was very warm); the perfect air-conditioning; the elevator (it would have been difficult to get heavy suitcases up the stairs); the shower with good water pressure; the location (close to everything). The hotels in Cremona leave a lot to be desired so this is a great choice even if you are a person who normally would go to a hotel. I returned to Cremona in November but stayed at a hotel there because I was with a group and we wanted to stay in the same place. Believe me, I kept wishing I could have stayed at Due Colonne! Someone will have to convince Marco to get another apt in the building. On the (very minor) negative side, it would have been nice to have a tea kettle. We managed anyway, but a kettle would have been easier. (You see, I'm searching to find a negative so that this is a balanced review!) One also misses the niceties of a hotel like fresh towels every day and someone to make the bed and pick up after you. But again, this is a quibble and I will happily return to Cremona and Due Colonne as soon as I can arrange it.

  Owner response: Thank you so much for your helpful review! We will definitely add a tea kettle! I'm also happy that you thought to mention the small room off of the bedroom. We have never highlighted that in the listing, but it comes in handy for so many purposes. Once, we even set up a blow-up twin size bed in that room for our guest's child!

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• Two weeks July - Aug. 2011

  Two weeks July - Aug. 2011

  • Guest EJ
  • Date of stay 07/23/11
  • Review Submitted 08/15/11
  We stayed at 2 Colonne for two weeks. The apartment is very nicely and newly appointed, with WIFI, Air-Conditioning, and a washing machine. It is in the historical center, a short walk from the main squares (Duomo and Roma) in the pedestrian historical center. An elevator makes it easy to bring up and down heavy suitcases. The owner's parents who met us to give us the key were extremely pleasant and welcoming, and explained all we needed to know. In addition, a useful binder in the apartment has information on about anything one may want to know about Cremona. We enjoyed our stay tremendously and will return.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, families with young children, tourists without a car.

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• Great place to stay

  Great place to stay

  • Guest DHW
  • Date of stay 06/10/11
  • Review Submitted 07/13/11
  My husband and I spent a week here in June. The apartment is spacious and very comfortable. The bar down the street is a little noisy, but closing the windows closes out the sound. The market around the corner twice a week was a wonderful source of meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables. We took day trips to visit Lake Garda, Verona, Parma and Modena and got Amarone wines, authentic balsamic vinegar and Parmesan cheese. The washing machine and air conditioning were greatly appreciated.

  Recommended for: Romantic getaway, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

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Fees:

• Taxes, cleaning, laundry: $128
• Taxes Not included

Cancellation policy:

RENTAL RULES AND REGULATIONS 2013 DUE COLONNE OF CREMONA 1. CHECK-IN TIME IS 3:00 P.M., CHECK-OUT TIME IS 11:00 A.M. 2. This is a non-smoking unit. 3. PAYMENT – A deposit of 50% of total rental fee is due upon confirmation of booking. The total remaining payment is due Thirty (30) days before scheduled arrival. If you book a rental less than Thirty (30) days before scheduled arrival the full rental charge is payable at the time of booking. 4. CANCELLATIONS – A cancellation made with Sixty (60) days notice or more results in a return of the 50 % deposit. A cancellation made within Sixty (60) days notice results in a forfeit of the deposit. A cancellation made within Thirty (30) days results in a forfeit of the deposit and full payment. Cancellation or early departure does not warrant any refund of rent or deposit. 5. MONTHLY RESERVATION CANCELLATION – A cancellation made with Ninety (90) days notice or more results in a return of the 50% deposit. A cancellation made within Ninety (90) days notice results in a forfeit of the deposit. Ninety (90) days is required for a change resulting in a shortened stay. A cancellation made within Thirty (30) days will mean a forfeit of the deposit and full payment. Cancellation or early departure does not warrant any refund of rent or deposit. 6. MAXIMUM OCCUPANCY – 4 people 7. INCLUSIVE FEES – Rates include a one-time linen-towel setup. 8. NO DAILY MAID SERVICE – Rate includes a cleaning at the end of stay. 9. FALSIFIED RESERVATIONS – Any reservation obtained under false pretenses will be subject to forfeiture of advance payment, deposit and/or rental money, and the party will not be permitted to check-in. 10. WRITTEN EXCEPTIONS – Any exceptions to the above mentioned policies must be approved in writing in advance. 11. PARKING PASSES – Not applicable at this time. 12. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES - You must keep the property and all furniture, fittings, effects, facilities and equipment in the same state of repair and condition as at the commencement of the rental and leave the property in the same state of general order in which it was found.

100% refund if canceled at least 60 days before arrival date.