Santa Maria della Croce Fair

A Centuries-Old Fair

The Santa Maria della Croce Fair is one of the oldest events in Crema: it was established by the Venetians in 1665, during the time of the Serenissima, and has been renewed every spring since then, generally around Easter. It is an event rooted in the city's history, continuing to blend commercial, religious, and popular dimensions.

Around the Sanctuary

The fair takes place near the evocative Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Croce, a site linked to the apparition of the Madonna to Caterina degli Uberti on April 3, 1490. Across an area of approximately 30,000 square meters, stalls offering sweets, local products, and crafts are set up, while the funfair and games attract families and young people, creating a festive atmosphere that unites different generations.

Between Commerce, Leisure, and Faith

What makes this fair special is its dual nature: on one hand, the market and entertainment; on the other, the spirituality of the sanctuary, where visitors can find solace in the scurolo, the chapel of the apparition. This blend of the sacred and the secular gives the event a unique charm among Lombardy's fairs.

An Identity Event

Although the number of exhibitors may vary from year to year, the Santa Maria della Croce Fair remains an identity event for Crema and the entire Crema area, in the province of Cremona: a moment when the city celebrates a centuries-old tradition, rediscovering its roots among the stalls and in the shadow of the sanctuary.