Booking choice: The culatello and Teatro Verdi day, from $244 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Busseto, the town of Verdi's youth, and Roncole, the village where he was born in 1813, lie north-west of Parma. Busseto is reached by train via Fidenza; the birthplace is about 5 km further on, in a village with no station.
Below: how far it is, how to get there, the birthplace, Busseto's Teatro Verdi and Casa Barezzi, which ticket to buy, Villa Verdi, a day plan, and the tours that save you the connections.
The quick answer
Take a train to Fidenza (about 24 minutes on average from Parma), then the branch line to Busseto, about 20 minutes; Roncole is 5 km further by taxi, bike or car. The birthplace costs EUR 6, or EUR 15 with Busseto's Teatro Verdi and Casa Barezzi, and everything closes on Mondays. Villa Verdi at Sant'Agata is closed. Without a car, the culatello and Teatro Verdi day from Parma handles the transport.
How far is Verdi country from Parma?
Busseto is roughly 32 to 40 km north-west of Parma, and Verdi's birthplace at Roncole is about 5 km from Busseto.
That makes an easy day trip: by train with a short taxi ride at the end, by car along the A1 to the Fidenza exit, or on a tour. Go from Tuesday to Sunday, because the Verdi sites close on Mondays.
How do you get to Busseto from Parma?
By train, changing at Fidenza for the Cremona line; the Fidenza to Busseto leg takes about 20 minutes, with about 17 direct trains a day. By car, take the A1 to Fidenza, then the SP 588R.
Check Trenitalia for your date, and note the last train back from Busseto before you set off.
| Option | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Train, Parma to Fidenza | About 24 minutes on average | Frequent trains on the main line |
| Train, Fidenza to Busseto | About 20 minutes | About 17 direct trains a day |
| Bus, Parma to Busseto | About 55 minutes | Check the timetable locally |
| Car | 32 to 40 km | A1 exit Fidenza, then the SP 588R |
| Taxi or bike, Busseto to Roncole | 5 km | There is no station at Roncole |
| Day tour from Parma | 6 to 9 hours | $244, transport included, free cancellation |
How much is Verdi's birthplace, and when is it open?
EUR 6, or EUR 15 on the combined ticket with the Teatro Verdi and Casa Barezzi. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:00, and is closed on Mondays.
The house at Roncole Verdi, where Verdi was born on 10 October 1813, was his father's inn and village shop. Its plain rooms tell his story with tablets and videos, and a bust of Verdi stands in the garden. There is no lift. Every room, ticket and opening time is covered in depth on our sister site, casaverdi.parma.it.
Skip the train connections: a day from Parma with a dairy, a culatello maker and, on option A, the Teatro Verdi.
Check dates for the culatello and Teatro Verdi dayWhat is there to see in Busseto?
The Teatro Verdi inside the Rocca Pallavicino, Casa Barezzi, where Verdi first played in public in 1830, and Piazza Verdi with his statue.
The Teatro Verdi, with about 300 seats, opened in 1868; a guided visit takes about 30 minutes and costs EUR 6. Casa Barezzi was the home of Antonio Barezzi, the merchant who backed the young Verdi and became his father-in-law. The Museo Nazionale Giuseppe Verdi at Villa Pallavicino is a separate museum, at EUR 9.
Which Verdi ticket should you buy?
The EUR 15 combined ticket, if you see the birthplace, the Teatro Verdi and Casa Barezzi on the same trip.
- Birthplace alone: EUR 6.
- Teatro Verdi alone: EUR 6 for the guided visit.
- Three sites: EUR 15 for the birthplace, the Teatro Verdi and Casa Barezzi.
- The Museo Nazionale: always a separate EUR 9 ticket, at Villa Pallavicino.
- Buy at your first stop: tickets are sold on site.
Busseto's Teatro Verdi on option A, after a Parmigiano dairy and a culatello maker, with transport from Parma and free cancellation.
Explore the culatello and Teatro Verdi dayCan you visit Villa Verdi at Sant'Agata?
No. Verdi's villa, about 3.5 km north of Busseto, has been closed to visitors since 2022 and has belonged to the Italian state since December 2024.
You can see it only from the road. Any page still listing its opening hours is out of date. The birthplace and the Busseto sites are open, Tuesday to Sunday.
How do you plan a day in Verdi country?
The birthplace in the morning, Busseto's Teatro Verdi before 12:30, a long lunch during the 13:00 to 14:30 break, then Casa Barezzi in the afternoon.
- 9:30: the birthplace at Roncole; buy the EUR 15 ticket here.
- 11:00: the Teatro Verdi in Busseto, about 30 minutes.
- 13:00: lunch, while the Verdi sites close until 14:30.
- 14:30: Casa Barezzi, the salon of Verdi's first concert.
- Late afternoon: the Museo Nazionale at Villa Pallavicino, then the train back to Parma.
- Not on a Monday, when everything is closed.
A private guide inside the birthplace, Casa Barezzi and the Rocca, with a culatello lunch. Non-refundable: book only when your date is certain.
Check dates for the private Verdi birthplace dayWhich tour goes to Verdi country from Parma?
The culatello and Teatro Verdi day, with transport from Parma and free cancellation. The private Verdi day meets in Busseto and is non-refundable.
The culatello and Teatro Verdi day ($244, 6 to 9 hours, rated 5.0 from 1 review) visits a Parmigiano dairy and a culatello maker; only the full-day option A goes to the Teatro Verdi, while the other options go to the Colorno palace or the Po river park. The private Verdi day ($289, 6 hours) meets at Piazza Matteotti 10 in Busseto and includes an hour in the birthplace, Casa Barezzi, the Rocca and a culatello lunch; it is new, non-refundable and cannot be changed. Back in Parma, the Regio completes the story: the guided visit guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Parma to Verdi's birthplace?
Take a train to Fidenza, change for Busseto (about 20 minutes), then go 5 km by taxi or bike to Roncole; or drive via the A1 exit at Fidenza.
Is Verdi's birthplace open on Mondays?
No. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:00.
Is Villa Verdi open?
No. It has been closed since 2022, and you can see it only from outside.
How much is the combined Verdi ticket?
EUR 15 for the birthplace, the Teatro Verdi and Casa Barezzi.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Parmigiano, Culatello and Busseto's Teatro Verdi
Verdi's own little theatre, with food
Musical and Theatrical Parma Walking Tour
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- Teatro Farnese and Toscanini's birthplace inside
- Teatro Regio from outside, and the Verdi monument
