On the notes of musicians around Florence

An itinerary to learn about the musicians who were born in this area, or who chose it as their home, among composers, singers and instrumentalists.

First of all, we must remember the fundamental importance of Florence in music history: from the birth of opera to the invention of the piano, everything passed through here. In such a fertile city, from a musical point of view, it is no wonder that even the surrounding territory has benefited from it.

Let's start with Enrico Caruso: the tenor who was applauded in the world's major theatres, the first singer to make a record, a true predictor of the public's taste. In Lastra a Signa, on the Bellosguardo hill you can visit what was once his residence during the Florentine period, when he bought and restored an ancient 16th-century home with its wonderful park. Inside the Enrico Caruso Museum you can listen to the valuable recordings of arias sung by the tenor, while looking at memorabilia and items related to this Italian star.

The second leg is in Empoli, to visit what was once the home of Ferruccio Busoni: child of artists, he became a highly renowned composer and pianist and came into contact with the great musicians of the time, from Brahms to Tchajkovsky, to Sibelius. The Musical Centre that bears his name actively works to promote the knowledge of the figure and works of Ferruccio Busoni, and of musical culture in general, organising high-quality festivals and concerts.

A little further south, in Montespertoli, lies the Amedeo Bassi Museum, dedicated to the Florentine tenor who was born here in 1874; a singer with undeniable vocal qualities and stage presence, he was acclaimed in Italy and abroad and is remembered for being the first performer in Italy of La Fanciulla del West by Giacomo Puccini.

The list of music personalities linked with the Florentine territory does not end here; just think of Narciso Parigi, born in Campi Bisenzio, remembered by all supporters of the Fiorentina soccer club as the writer of the song O Fiorentina, the team's anthem.