Italy, Following Verdi – Busseto and Sant'Agata

We walk down the streets of the small town of Busseto along the construction of the water tower hidden between the trees on its edge. Here we make a short break.

Villa Pallavicino is a Renaissance sight from the 16th century, which stands behind the old city fortifications. It is surrounded by a water moat, although it never served defensive purposes. The narrow path leading to the arc de triumph from the 17th century is lined with posters referring to a museum dedicated to the city's most famous inhabitant - the Giuseppe Verdi National Museum. The museum is situated in the vaulted ceilings with frescoes (information on opening hours and admissions can be found on the museum's website).

Just a few steps from the museum (on the other side of the road), the tourist table with Verdi's portrait will highlight the Gothic church of Santa Maria degli Angeli (1470-1477). When you enter it, you will find yourself in a simple interior of the temple the white walls of separate pilasters from the bricks and the ribs of the vaults of the temple.

Next, you get into the area leading to the sacristy. From there leads a path to the Garden of Eden, which belongs to the adjacent Franciscan monastery.

In Verdi's life, this church also played its part. He had been visiting it as a child already. At this very place, amazing tones were played on organ by the future musical master composer. That's why we can not even wonder why here the Verdi festival is held every year.

We follow the footsteps of Verdi and leave the city and set out on a narrow path between the fields around farms in Emilia Romagna region. We stop after approximately three kilometers of walk. We are walking along a narrow path to the sounds of cicadas. Then we continue a few meters to Villa di Sant'Agata, now known as Villa Verdi. Giuseppe Verdi had known this area since childhood, and a modest farmhouse in the small village of Villanova Sull'Arda could afford to buy in 1849 when he began to reap success.

We walk along the pink wall to a small pink house with a cash desk and entrance to once residence. For a few euros you can see the villa and its adjacent gardens.
The large yellow inconspicuous villa was home to Verdi's parents. After her reconstruction, he lived and worked there. Already famous Giuseppe Verdi returned there with his second wife (Giuseppina Strepponi).

The garden the borders of which are made by a number of poplar and oak trees was expanded by purchasing more land in the area (6 ha). A long line of platans leads to homestead field. He cultivated the trees, exotic plants, built a lake, an artificial cave and a small cemetery for his beloved dogs. Through a series of hydraulic interventions, he brought water from the Ongin stream to irrigate the lawn.

The villa is in the same condition as during Verdi's life. There is the bedroom of Giuseppina featuring bed with canopy. In this very bed she died on on November 14, 1897 died. Also, there is inlaid furniture, and Correggio school paintings. You will find the room where Verdi worked and slept, his desk, bust, notes and other items related to his person. There is also a room (furniture oplus bed) from the Hotel de Milan, where he died on 27 January 1901.

Between Le Roncole, Busseet and Sant'Agata, there are small distances and you can cross them by bicycle. On our journey, however, we have to explore the last piece of composer's life. We must leave mainly the agricultural region of Emilia Romagna and go northwards. Within about one hundred miles of Milan.

GPS: 45°00'20.0"N 10°02'13.8"E

Text and photos: Mgr. Anna Nociarová

Edited by: Infoglobe