Italy's violin-makers struggle to hit profitable note

Violins are seen at Edgar Russ' workshop in Cremona, Italy, March 10, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

CREMONA, Italy - Making violins is a passion in Cremona, the ancient Italian town that has been producing them since the 16th century, but turning passion into profits has not been easy.

Cremona, in northern Italy, has more than 100 workshops making violins and other stringed instruments for musicians worldwide, following in the tradition of its great violin-makers which have included Antonio Stradivari and Nicolò Amati.

Many of the town's "liutaia" specialise exclusively in master instruments in the tradition of Stradivari, each taking months to produce and costing around 20,000 euros each. Some liutaia make as few as six or seven violins a year.