When was the violin invented and who made it?

The exact origins of the violin are unclear, but it is widely believed that the first true violins were made in Italy around the early 16th century. The violin is thought to have evolved from earlier instruments such as the rebec and the vielle, which were popular during the Middle Ages.

Andrea Amati, who lived in Cremona, Italy, is often considered to be one of the earliest and most influential violin makers. He is credited with developing many of the features that are now standard on the modern violin, such as the S-shaped sound holes, the scroll, and the use of different types of wood for different parts of the instrument. Andrea Amati's sons and grandsons continued his tradition of violin making, and the Amati family is considered to be one of the most important families in the history of violin making.

Other famous violin makers of the 16th and 17th centuries include Gasparo da Salò, Giovanni Paolo Maggini, and Antonio Stradivari. These makers, known as the "Golden Age" of violin making, are highly sought after and their instruments are considered to be some of the finest ever made.