We went to Crema almost by chance and perhaps a little biased, thinking of an industrious little town without special architectural qualities.
But just at the entrance we were impressed by a colorful lovely building, looking as a bright welcome.
And then we saw palaces, streets and beautiful halls to follow one another.
The carved cathedral, the praetorian palace and the tower with its arch, all deserving our admiration.
Full of vitality and little shops, Crema has absolutely to be visited.

[*] so it is named by the writer and journalist Beppe Severgnini, native of Crema, because it is closer to Bergamo than to Cremona population

A short history:
According to the tradition the town dates back to 570 while following other sources to 4th century AD or to Celtic or Etruscan settlements.
In 1159 it was invaded and destroyed by the emperor Frederick Barbarossa: this event is represented by a painting placed in the room of the Town Council, called “sala degli ostaggi cremaschi”.
Free city-state from 1185 to 1335, afterwards it was subdued by the Visconti.
From 1449 to 1797 it was under the Venetian rule; passed to the French in 1815 it entered the Austrian Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia.
Annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1860, it entered the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

For more info:
wiki Crema