Bringing Salieri home

Legnago, in northern Italy, has requested the return of composer Antonio Salieri’s remains to his hometown, from his grave at Vienna’s Zentralfriedhof.

The group "Legnago for Salieri", comprised of the town’s citizens, has requested to recover the remains from the city of Vienna. The last known attempt to bring Salieri back to northern Italy was during World War II.

Salieri – known for his work as a composer, and for his legendary rivalry with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – moved to Vienna in 1766 and resided there as court composer to the Habsburgs until his death in 1825.

Franco Bozzolin, the organiser behind the request to return Salieri to Italy said that, "this mission is possible, but it will be a long road as it involves institutions in two countries." However, at this time Austrian authorities are refusing to return the remains to Legnago and take the stance that it is "highly unlikely" that Salieri will leave Vienna.