5832 La Terra Verdiana

Being a great lover of music, this is an area of Emilia Romagna that any serious music lovers should not miss.
La bassa Parmense is home to one of the world's best known and greatest composers-----GIUSEPPE VERDI.

A visit to "La Terra Verdiana" must begin at Roncole Verdi where the maestro was born on 10th October 1813.
Here you can visit his birthplace ,the family home, which was once also an osteria run by his father.

Across the way is the small church of San Michele where you can still see the organ dating to 1797 and where Verdi played.

Moving down to BUSSETO where the young Verdi was adopted by the Barezzi family and whos daughter Margherita was Verdi's first wife, you can enjoy this small but busy typical town of La Bassa.
A thriving little place but determined to keep the memory of Verdi very much alive.

The Piazza Verdi is where you will find a bronze statue of this local lad erected in 1913.

Il Teatro Verdi opened on 15th August 1868 and is a beautiful little theatre with only 300 seats.
In honour of Verdi, the opening night saw the ladies dressed in green and men wearing green ties.
As a snub to this theatre which Verdi thought a waste of money and also due to the fact that he objected to the locals poking their noses into his private lives, he did not attend.

The Casa Barezzi is now an interesting museum where you can see original furniture and the forte-piano played by Verdi.
Many original scores and costumes from his operas are also on display.

Villa Pallavicino is also worth a visit and in the museum there you will find the spinet where Verdi had some of his early keyboard lessons.
There is an open air theatre which is a magical setting in the Summer months for concerts.
I attended a memorable performance of Verdi's Requiem and is something I will remember for ever.
Made even more special knowing that it was right here in the land of the great man himself.

Nearby you can also visit Villa Sant'Agata where Verdi lived with the soprano Giuseppina Strepponi his second wife.
Again an interesting museum and a must for anyone wanting to pay homage to this great man.
The fertile plains and long lines of trees lining the horizon especially on a misty day really sums up this wonderful land which I just love so much.

A short stay in this area will give you a wonderful insight into life in the area .
A comfortable small hotel in Busseto is I Due Foscari owned by one of the most famous tenors to sing the Verdi repertoire.Carlo Bergonzi.

A fantastic place to sample some amazing prosciutto and "forma" (the locals call the parmesan cheese by this name) is at the Salsamenteria Storica on Via Roma.
A small osteria full of Verdi memorabilia and playing his music continually to add to the atmosphere.
Some local but very good lambrusco (yes it does exist but only in this area) which you drink from small bowls and some of the best ham and cheese you could ever hope to sample.
Full of old local men who quite happily play cards and sing along to the strains of celeste aida at the same time.

An international song contest called I Voci Verdiani is held in Busseto every year.

This is an area dear to my heart and one not to be missed.