Luigi Illica was born in Castell’Arquato, he left soon his hometown moved by his lively character.
Luigi Illica’s Life
He had an adventurous life, he was journalist, writer belonging to the Scapigliatura milanese, dramatist, but librettist too. This last activity is the one who made him really famous. Luigi Illica collaborated with Giacomo Puccini, Alfredo Catalani, Umberto Giordano and some more musicians. But the meeting with Giuseppe Giacosa was the most important for him, cause together publish his most important librettos: La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly. The luckiest libretto written only by himself was Andrea Chénier.
Moving back to his homeland
A serious fall from a horse forced him to definetevely move back to Colombarone, a country-side estate near Castell’Arquato, where he died on the 16th December 1919.
The Museum
A little and innovative museum dedicated to Illica is located inCastell’Arquato. The museum is hostiong his remains and memories, collecting scores, handwritings, stage costumes, letters. Many other objects witness his time, his friendships, his rivalries, his politic choices and his work.
