Towards the end of his life Verdi spent more and more time in Milan as it was his intention to follow closely work on the building of the Rest Home for retired musicians. In Milan Verdi stayed in suite 105 on the first floor of the Gran Hotel et Milan. It was here that Giuseppe Verdi died on 27th January 1901 assisted to the end by Prof. Pietro Grocco. Present at his bedside at the moment of death were Maria Carrara, Teresa Stolz, Giulio and Giuditta Ricordi, Arrigo Boito and Giuseppe Giocosa. In order not to disturb the great Maestro’s last days the Milan Municipality ordered straw to be placed on the road outside the Hotel so that the noise of passing carriages would be diminished. The Grand Hotel et Milan still exists today at n. 29 Via Alessandro Manzoni about 400 metres from La Scala. The Verdi suite can still be visited occasionally when available and with kind permission of the Hotel direction and still houses the writing desk used by Verdi during his stays as well as a large painting, a print and a bust of Maestro Verdi while another portrait is to be seen in the marvellous Hotel foyer. The bed which Verdi used and in which he died is preserved at Villa Verdi Sant’Agata.
