Antonio Smareglia

Antonio Smareglia was born in Pola, in the Istrian peninsula, then part of the Austrian Empire.

In the house where he was born in Via Nettuno, there is now a small museum of his life and work.

His father Francesco Smareglia from Pola[1] was Italian, his mother Giulia Stiglich from Lovran was Croatian.

[2] The composer chose to set his most famous opera, Nozze istriane, in his grandfather's village,[2] Dignano d'Istria.

Since then he composed his music dictating to his sons, Ariberto and Mario, and to his students and friends including Primo dalla Zonca, Gastone Zuccoli, and Vito Levi.

Antonio Smareglia circa 1880