Casa Verdi

As the clock hands slowly move towards mealtime, one suddenly sees peculiar old men sneaking around Milan's Piazza Buonarotti. One of them wears a notably wide-brimmed hat, which he graciously tips in a noble gesture whenever a familiar face (even if just a presumed acquaintance) crosses his path. Another one is dressed in a dark, tailcoat-like suit in broad daylight, wearing an expression that suggests he is utterly tired of being constantly asked for autographs. These strange figures are heading towards an elegantly appearing building, a small palace with a neo-Gothic inspired facade. They are residents of the Casa di Riposo, the retirement home for musicians founded by Giuseppe Verdi in 1896, for those who find themselves with empty pockets after a long life devoted to their passion.