At the time Palazzo Orlandi was held to be the most modern and elegant palazzo in Busseto. It was built at the beginning of the XVIII century in neo-classical style by the local architect and painter Giuseppe Cavalli who also carried out the decoration of the main reception room.
Giuseppe Verdi was struck by the elegance of the palazzo and bought it in 1845 and transferred there a few years later together with his companion Giuseppina Strepponi with whom he co-habited until 1851 causing scandal amongst the good people of Busseto. It was during this period that Verdi composed the operas Luisa Miller, Stiffelio and Rigoletto.
Following the hostile treatment reserved for Giuseppina Strepponi, Verdi decided to transfer residence to his property at Sant’Agata in the Piacenza provincial area where he built a large villa.
Verdi transferred the Palazzo to Giuseppina Strepponi but she sold it on quite quickly and used all profit from the sale to help the poor people of Busseto. The property is currently closed for refurbishment but in the past contained an exhibition of antique furniture and memorabilia of both Verdi and Arturo Toscanini who stayed in the Palazzo as guest of the then owners, the Orlandi family, when he was in Busseto for the Verdi celebrations of 1913 and 1926.