where Verdi stayed in Milan

http://www.grandhoteletdemilan.it/

champion of Italian unification

Giuseppe Verdi [1813-1901] favored Italian unification, which was largely realized in 1871.

After four centuries of foreign rule, Italy went from a peninsula of colonies and small states in 1850 to one united country 20 years later. Victor Emmanuel II [1820-1878] became Italy's first constitutional monarch.

An earlier reference to Verdi on this blog here.

la donna è mobile

by Giuseppe Verdi [1813-1901]

One working translation:

Woman is as fickle
as a feather in the wind
Silent in speech
and in thought!
Always lovable
the beautiful of face
whether crying or laughing
is lying
He is always miserable
who trusts her
whoever confides in her
his unwary heart!
And yet he will never feel
the complete happiness
who on that breast
does not drink of love!