The Mauro Lucini Workshop in Cremona

When Maestro Mauro Lucini opened his workshop in the ancient brick vaults in front of St. Michael’s Basilica more than 40 years ago, he was guided by his unerring sense of history and the centuries-old craft tradition of his hometown. The premises, which once housed the chapel of the medieval hospital of San Giovanni, not only provide the necessary space and good indoor climate for delicate work with fine woods, but also feature an open and inspiring spirit: less than a five-minute walk from the birthplace of Claudio Monteverdi in 1567, Piazza San Michele offers an intimate and local view of Cremona.

Here Lucini and his workshop have created a time capsule in which the world of Stradivari combines with the high standards of modern-day violin making. Trained in the best schools of violin making, his collaborators give new impetus to the work on the Officina’s instruments, where, under the master’s direction, violins of exceptional beauty, with outstanding sonic qualities, unmistakable Italian character, and unparalleled value for money are created.