In the course of checking my planned trains on the Trenitalia website, I see that trains from Cremona to Fidenza – en route to Bologna – stop halfway at the small town of Busseto, where Verdi came under Antonio Barezzi's patronage and taught (and later married) his daughter Margherita. I'd thought there was no station at Busseto and that I would be unable to visit, but I think I must have misspelt the name when searching before. If I finish early enough in Cremona it might be a worthwhile stop.
I doubt if there is left luggage at the station, so I would have to drag my case. From the air the station looks about 1km from the centre, so a 10 min+ walk each way. Looks attractive, but Casa Barezzi and Verdi's statue in the main square the main places of interest for me. It's not clear on any websites I've found whether visiting Casa Barezzi is by appointment or that appointments are required only for groups.
The latest practical trains from Busseto to Bologna would be 16:57 (arr. 18:28) or 17:52 (arr. 19:28), although if I could eat in Busseto I could catch the later 18:47 (arr. 20:28). The afternoon trains from Cremona to Busseto are 14:05 (arr. 14:26) or 15:27 (arr. 15:49); the first would give me two and a half hours, the next only a little over an hour, before the 16:57 to Bologna. The 15:27 from Cremona would give me two hours in Busseto before the 17:52, which feels about right.
I'm anxious not to cut Cremona short. I'm going slightly out of my way to get there, and if the violin museums are good I want to make the best of them – and of course enjoy the duomo, etc. But if I do feel I've seen all I want by early afternoon then calling in to Busseto is a good option.
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