Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(
www.parmapuntobici.pr.it
;
Viale Toschi 2a; bicycles per hour/day €0.70/10, electric bikes €0.90/20;
9am-1pm & 3-7pm Mon-Sat, 10am-1pm & 2.30-7.30pm Sun)
.
Busseto & Verdi Country
During the 'golden age of opera' in the second half of the 19th century, only Wagner came
close to emulating Giuseppe Verdi, Italy's operatic genius who was born in the tiny village
of Roncole Verdi in 1813. You can tour his gigantic legacy starting in the town of Busseto,
35km northwest of Parma, a pleasant place imbued with history and endowed with some
good cafes and restaurants. There are enough sights for a decent musical day out.
Sights
Museo Nazionale
Giuseppe Verdi
(
www.museogiuseppeverdi.it
;
Via Provesi 35; adult/reduced €9/7; 10am-6.30pm Tue-Sun)
His name
may translate as plain old 'Joe Green' in English, but there was nothing remotely ordinary
about Giuseppe Verdi. Still fresh after two centuries, his music is implanted into most
people's subconscious without them even realising it. Take a trip through the rooms of this
fine country mansion-turned-museum and you'll undoubtedly recognise numerous stanzas
from classic operas such as
Il Trovatore
and
Aida
.
The museum, on the outskirts of the small town of Busseto, cleverly maps out the story
of Verdi's life through paintings, music and audio guides (included in the price).
MUSEUM
Teatro Verdi
(Piazza Verdi; adult/reduced €4/3; 9.30am-1pm & 3-6.30pm Tue-Sun)
A stately theatre on Bus-
seto's aptly named Piazza Verdi was built in 1868, although Verdi himself initially pooh-
poohed the idea. It opened with a performance of his masterpiece
Rigoletto
.
THEATRE
Casa Natale di Giuseppe Verdi
(adult/child €4/3; 9.30am-12.30pm & 2.30-6.30pm Tue-Sun)
The humble cottage where Gi-
useppe Verdi was born in 1813 is now a small museum. It's in the hamlet of Roncole
Verdi, 5km southest of Busseto.
MUSEUM
Casa Barezzi
MUSEUM
