Italian culture scene rallying to save Verdi’s home

Giuseppe Verdi left a vast body of operatic work, including Rigoletto, Aida and La Traviata.

A situation that has spurred Italy’s cultural institutions into action. Verdi moved into this large stone building in the hamlet of Sant’Agata di Villanova in Emilia Romagna in 1851.

He lived there for almost half a century until his death in 1901. Part of the house is now used as a museum, where music lovers can discover many objects that belonged to the Italian maestro, including a collection of artworks, a piano and his personal library.

The fate of this house-museum has attracted the attention of the Italian state, which wishes to acquire it to prevent it from falling into private hands. It has allocated² €20mil (RM94mil) for the purchase, although the local press claims that Villa¹ Verdi could fetch €30mil (RM141mil) at auction³.

The Italian Ministry⁴ of Culture decided⁵ to launch the “Viva Verdi” operation to raise the necessary funds for the acquisition and renovation⁶ of this somewhat dilapidated house.