Antonio Stradivari was born in Cremona around 1644. His origins are uncertain, but it is believed that he trained in the workshop of Nicolò Amati, one of the most famous violin makers of the time. Stradivari distinguished himself for the high quality of his craftsmanship and for his innovation in the shapes and materials he used. 

Stradivari worked until the last days of his very long life; he died on 18 December 1737 in Cremona and was buried in the Basilica of San Domenico, inside the Chapel of the Rosary. In 1869, the church and the adjoining monastery were demolished. In their place today are the public gardens of Piazza Roma, where this copy of the simple tombstone (by sculptor Dante Ruffini) is preserved, bearing the date when the great luthier purchased the tomb for himself and his family: 1729. The original tombstone is on display in the nearby Museo del Violino.

Ph. Salvo Liuzzi Photo