Busseto (Emilia Romagna)

Busseto is a town in the province of Parma, in Emilia-Romagna. Its history has very ancient roots which date back to the 10th century, and for almost five hundred years it was the capital of Stato Pallavicino. In the town and the local area many sites associated with the life of Verdi can be visited, starting from Piazza Verdi, where a bronze monument dedicated to the Maestro dominates the square. Other monuments include the Verdi theatre, dating back between 1856 and 1868 and Casa Barezzi, where the composer lived with his wife Margherita Barezzi. Just outside the wall of the city, another important stop along this itinerary is at Villa Pallavicino. This beautiful Renaissance building is now home to the National Museum Giuseppe Verdi and celebrates this genius composer. The main events of every year in Busseto are the Carnival, with magnificent parades of masked people on floats throwing flowers, sweets and oranges, and the Festival Verdi, the most anticipated event of the year, taking place in October, to celebrate the birthday of the Maestro.