Highlights
Don't miss
Approach the altar and observe the sculptural details of the front high relief: Giuseppe Verdi in meditation, absorbed in the creative process, while the Muses whisper to him Inspiration, Melody, Song.
Walk around it and discover the three rear panels that recount the Maestro's political role during the Unification of Italy.
During the Verdi Festival in autumn, the monument comes alive with concerts and candlelight vigils that turn Piazzale della Pace into a living homage to Verdi's genius.
The original monument: a majestic amphitheatre for the Verdi centenary
In 1913, Parma decided to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi. The famous composer, born in nearby Roncole, was a point of pride for the city and the region.
The idea of a great monument was born to honour the maestro and his music. The work was meant to be a symbol of Verdi's greatness and his bond with his native land.
The project was entrusted to the architect Lamberto Cusani, who began construction in the square in front of the railway station.
From the bombings to the reconstruction: the troubled history of the monument
Work began in 1913 but suffered slowdowns due to the First World War.
The original work was a grand amphitheatre developed as a double semicircular portico, hosting 27 statues depicting the characters of Verdi's operas, arranged in the correct chronological order of composition, plus a statue dedicated to the Hymn of War.
The immense structure was inaugurated on 22 February 1920, immediately becoming one of the most majestic monuments in Italy.
The high reliefs: Verdi, the Muses and the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy
At the centre of the original semicircular space rose a monumental granite altar with bronze high reliefs.
The front depicted Giuseppe Verdi in meditation, surrounded by the Muses suggesting to him, in order, Inspiration, Melody, Song, the Rhythm of the Dance, Love and Death.
An altar in granite and bronze for the Maestro of opera
The Monument to Giuseppe Verdi is a tribute to the celebrated Italian composer, who left an indelible mark on the history of music. Set in the open air in Piazzale della Pace, this homage in stone and bronze captures the essence of the Maestro and his cultural significance. In Parma, Verdi's home territory, the original monument was an imposing amphitheatre inaugurated in 1920. Sadly, during the Second World War, the work suffered serious damage. Today, in Piazzale della Pace, stands a reduced but still significant version of the memorial. The granite and bronze altar that we admire today is what remains of the original monumental amphitheatre, a fragment loaded with history and meaning that continues to inspire visitors from all over the world.
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The original monument: a grand amphitheatre for the Verdi centenary
In 1913 Parma decided to celebrate the centenary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth. The famous composer, born nearby in Roncole, was a point of pride for the city and the region. The idea of a great monument arose to honour the Maestro and his music. The work was to be a symbol of Verdi's greatness and of his bond with his native land. The project was entrusted to the architect Lamberto Cusani, who began construction on the square facing the railway station. The Palermo-born sculptor Ettore Ximenes was tasked with creating the bronze and granite sculptures. The aim was to create a majestic work, as tall as the Palazzo della Pilotta, that would embody the magnificence of the Verdian genius.
From the bombardments to the reconstruction: the troubled story of the monument
Works began in 1913 but slowed because of the First World War. The original was a grand amphitheatre with a double semicircular portico, hosting 27 statues representing the characters of Verdi's operas in chronological order of composition, plus a statue dedicated to the Inno di Guerra. The vast structure was inaugurated on 22 February 1920, immediately becoming one of the most majestic monuments in Italy. Sadly, on 13 May 1944, during the Second World War, the monument was struck by Allied bombardments. Although the damage was not particularly severe, in May 1945 it was decided to demolish it to make way for postwar building, a decision that drew sharp controversy. From the imposing original complex only the central altar was saved, today set in Piazzale della Pace, along with 9 of the 28 statues. Many of the others were taken away by private collectors or thrown into the river. The surviving works are now in the hall of the Arena del Sole theatre in Roccabianca.
The reliefs: Verdi, the Muses and the annexation to the Kingdom of Italy
At the centre of the original semicircle stood a monumental altar of granite with bronze high reliefs. The front represented Giuseppe Verdi in meditation, surrounded by Muses who in turn suggest to him Inspiration, Melody, Song, the Rhythm of Dance, Love and Death. The back was divided into three high reliefs telling the approval of the annexation of Parma to the Kingdom of Italy (12 September 1859), Verdi's triumphant arrival in Turin with the famous epigraph 'Viva V.E.R.D.I.', and the delivery of the resolutions to King Victor Emmanuel II (15 September 1859). These reliefs recall the political role of Verdi, often forgotten beside his musical genius, underlining how the composer was also a fervent patriot who took part actively in the process of Italian unification.