BAREZZI HOUSE-MUSEUM

Antonio Barezzi’s house remained intact until the mid-20th century, when the last heirs, after dispersing the furnishings, put it up for sale. Later acquired by the Banca Nazionale dell’Agricoltura, the large Salon was generously entrusted to the care of the Associazione Amici di Verdi, which took the initiative to restore it as the new headquarters of the association, recovering and refurnishing the great room (with the original furniture) to its 19th-century appearance.

The restored Salon was reopened to the public on May 26, 1979, in the presence of Renata Tebaldi, who acted as the event’s patroness. The celebrations continued that evening at the Teatro Verdi with a concert by the great flutist Severino Gazzelloni. The venue was thus returned to its traditional role as a hall for concerts and cultural gatherings: since then, it has hosted performances by major interpreters of the music world as well as new emerging talents.

The dream of making the entire first floor of Casa Barezzi accessible to visitors and Verdi enthusiasts came true on April 10, 2001, with the opening of a new Museum, made possible above all thanks to the generosity of the bank that owned the property and to the essential new donation of memorabilia by Grand Officer Gianfranco Stefanini and his wife Mrs. Ketty. On the day of its inauguration, the Museum had the honor of being opened by Maestro Riccardo Muti and shortly afterward visited by the President of the Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

The Casa Barezzi Museum is an essential stop on the tour of Verdi’s landmarks, offering insight into the human, emotional, and professional formation of the young Maestro. The historic salon, home of the Filarmonica Bussetana founded by Antonio Barezzi, hosted Verdi’s first compositions and public performances as a student and later as a young maestro. It also witnessed the blossoming of his love for Margherita, Antonio’s daughter, who would become Verdi’s first wife. The Maestro continued to frequent the house regularly until 1867. During one stay as a guest of his father-in-law, he wrote some pages of I due Foscari (1844) there. The adjacent rooms on the first floor now house an extensive exhibition of Verdi memorabilia, including autograph letters, paintings, portraits, documents, and posters, all helping to retrace the Maestro’s entire professional career.

The Museum is open at the following days and times:
Tuesday to Friday
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.* (last tour)
03:00 p.m. – 04:00 p.m.* (last tour)

Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.* (last tour)
03:00 p.m. – 04:00 p.m. – 05:00 p.m.* (last tour)

For more information and to consult ticket prices and agreements, click here and/or contact:
– Tel. 0524 931117
– E-mail: info@museocasabarezzi.it