Crema - Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Croce
The Lodi architect Giovanni Battagio, a pupil of Bramante, who trained in the very modern Milanese school, was called in to design the sanctuary.
Around 1500 Battagio broke off relations with the blacksmiths and the continuation of the factory was entrusted to Giovanni Montanaro.
In 1514 Crema was under siege by the coalition composed of the Duchy of Milan, the Spanish Empire and the Swiss Confederation: its defense was entrusted to Renzo da Ceri who had everything around the city leveled except for the sanctuary in an advanced state of ruin. construction transforming it into a fort. Renzo da Ceri won thanks to the attack on the Sforza camp in Ombriano, but the four-month siege was not favorable to the sanctuary which was seriously damaged.
The events of the war and the plague epidemic following the siege slowed down the continuation of the works: the first internal decorations began around 1541.
In 1585 the sanctuary was entrusted to the parish of Pianengo.
In the year 1593 the Venetian mayor Nicola Vendramin had a new road connecting Porta Serio and the sanctuary built: it was long known as Strada Vendramina and was further widened and tree-lined in 1810.
On 14 November 1664, the Doge of Venice Domenico Contarini authorized the establishment of a fair to be held every year on 25 March, the day of the Annunciation: the first edition was held in 1666 and is still held today.
In 1694 the sanctuary was entrusted to the order of the Discalced Carmelites who a few years later (1706) began the construction of the imposing convent. In 1710 they also added the bell tower. However, the Carmelites did not remain there for long: in 1810 they had to abandon Crema following the Napoleonic suppressions.
Once the friars had left, the problem arose of entrusting the care of souls to the neighborhood that had arisen in the meantime around the sanctuary: in 1828 the bishop of Crema, Monsignor Tommaso Ronna, decreed the establishment of the parish of Santa Maria della Croce: the first priest was Don Agostino Cremonesi who took possession of the parish on 2 May 1830.