THE PATH OF GIUSEPPE VERDI: AN ITINERARY IN THE PROVINCE THROUGH THE LIFE AND MEMORIES OF THE SWAN OF BUSSETO

Visiting Parma and its splendid provinces is an opportunity to discover those small towns and villages in the Parma lowlands that, today more than ever, are steeped in the music and memory of the great composer Giuseppe Verdi, whose works are known and appreciated in theatres all over the world.
Despite his great musical fame in cities such as Parma and Milan, the so-called “Swan of Busseto” has his roots firmly planted in these small, charming towns, to which he will always remain attached, cherishing his childhood memories and affections.

From his birthplace to the church where he was baptised, from his early musical training and success to his life with Giuseppina Strepponi: this historical tour of the province of Parma has been designed to accompany visitors on a journey of discovery of Giuseppe Verdi and his world, recounting step by step and visiting in order the main stages in the life of the man who, starting from the small village of Roncole, became one of the greatest composers of all time.

The itinerary begins at Giuseppe Verdi’s birthplace, the first important place in the maestro’s life, located in Roncole. The route continues with a visit to the nearby Church of San Michele Arcangelo, then moves on to Busseto where his formative years are explored at the Giuseppe Verdi National Museum, the charming Church and Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli, the Casa Barezzi Museum, the Oratory of the Holy Trinity and the wonderful Giuseppe Verdi Theatre, metaphorically seen in this excursion as the place of his definitive musical consecration. The tour ends with a visit to Villa Verdi in Sant’Agata, where Verdi lived lovingly with his second wife Giuseppina Strepponi, closing the circle of Verdi’s life in the charming province of Parma.

Main themes: historical, musical, architectural, landscape
Mode: by car
Duration: 3 h
Indications:
– Type of excursion: one way
– Difficulty: easy
– Lenght: 11,1 km

Route stage
Start: Giuseppe Verdi’s Birthplace (Strada Processione 1, Roncole Verdi).
The most evocative of Verdi’s places, namely the small house where Giuseppe Verdi was born, located at a crossroads in the centre of the village. Overlooking the square, it was also used as a post office and, in its simplicity, has remained unchanged since 1813 at the behest of the Marquises Pallavicino.

Stage 1: Church of St. Michael Archangel (Piazza Guareschi 65, Roncole Verdi).
A few steps from his birthplace is the Church of San Michele Arcangelo, where Giuseppe Verdi was baptised and where, in his early childhood, he had the opportunity to practise under the guidance of his first teacher Pietro Baistrocchi on an organ built in 1797 by Francesco Bossi from Bergamo, with which he served Mass and played for his fellow villagers.

Stage 2: Renata Tebaldi Museum (Via Ferdinando Provesi 35, Busseto).
This is the intermediate stage of the route, which interrupts the chronological events of the Verdi tour for a moment to visit the museum dedicated to Renata Tebaldi. The museum was created to celebrate the life and career of the famous soprano, described as “the voice of angel” by Arturo Toscanini. The exhibition, curated by stylist Daniela Gerini, is a multimedia exhibition that showcases the rich artistic heritage left by the singer. Starting from the west wing of the ground floor, it is divided into six themed rooms: the Document Room, the Jewellery Room, Renata’s Room, Madama Butterfly’s Room, the Photography Room and the Stage Costume Room.

Stage 3: Church and Convent of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Via Ferdinando Provesi 39A, Busseto).
A Gothic church with an adjoining Franciscan convent located on the south-western outskirts of the town, built between 1470 and 1474 by Pallavicino and Gianludovico Pallavicino. Inside, in a niche covered with rock formations, is Guido Mazzoni’s Lamentation over the Dead Christ, a masterpiece of 15th-century Emilian sculpture. Giuseppe Verdi, who attended the church as a child, held a highly popular organ concert there on 6 January 1836, in a climate heated by controversy over the competition for the position of chapel master of the Collegiate Church.

Stage 4: Casa Barezzi House-Museum (Via Roma 119, Busseto).
This was the place where the young Giuseppe Verdi received his first musical and emotional education, quickly realising that he had a great vocation for opera. The historic hall of Casa Barezzi, formerly the headquarters of the Bussetana Philharmonic, not only welcomed him in his early compositions and public student performances but also saw the blossoming of his love for Margherita, daughter of Mr Antonio Barezzi, who later became Verdi’s first wife. Today, the rooms house a vast exhibition of Verdi memorabilia, including autographed letters, portraits, documents and posters.

Stage 5: Oratory of the Holy Trinity (Via Pietro Balestra 20, Busseto).
Piazza Roma is lined with elegant 15th-century buildings, embellished with characteristic Lombard-style terracotta decorations on their façades, such as the Oratory of the Holy Trinity, where Giuseppe Verdi and Margherita Barezzi were married on 4 May 1836. Adjacent to it, you can also admire the Collegiate Church of St. Bartholomew.

Tappa 6: Giuseppe Verdi Theatre (Piazza Giuseppe Verdi 1, Busseto).
La Rocca, formerly the castle of the Pallavicino family, houses a small gem: the famous Verdi Theatre. The theatre’s fame is also linked to the presence of Arturo Toscanini, who conducted Falstaff and La Traviata there in 1913 during the Verdi celebrations.

Arrive: Villa Verdi (Via Giuseppe Verdi 22, Sant’Agata).
Villa Verdi is the residence where Giuseppe Verdi lived in his later years, purchasing it in 1848 and living there from 1851 with his second wife Giuseppina Strepponi. Verdi himself took part in the design of the modifications to both the interior and exterior spaces, which gave the villa its current appearance, jealously guarded by the composer’s heirs. It was here that Verdi sought and found the isolation necessary for his creative genius and his shy and reserved character. Today, Villa Verdi is the best key to understanding the spirit of the great composer and man Giuseppe Verdi.


Useful tips: Bring a bottle of water, a packed lunch and layers of clothing. The route can also be covered on foot for those who wish to do so, covering a distance of 9.4 km: in this case, it is advisable to wear appropriate clothing for hiking and comfortable shoes.