A Touch of Romeo & Juliet

Just round the corner from our hotel in Verona was the Casa di Giuletta. We felt we ought to go to see it, despite feeling it was going to be a crass bit of commercialism.

In theory it was the home of Juliet, balcony & all, a place steeped in romance thanks to Shakespeare & his play “Romeo and Juliet”.

The building itself dates back to the 13^th century, the era of the Scaligeri. It’s on the Via Cappello, reminiscent of the dai Cappello family, the original of the Capulets. But there is no evidence this was her home.

 

With our very own Juliet on the balcony

As for the balcony, that was put up in 1935 to fit Shakespeare’s play.

We were grateful we’d got there early. The scrum of people was bad even then. We passed later at some point & then it was almost impossible to get through into the courtyard.

We did not bother to go on to Juliet’s Tomb in a crypt below the cloister of San Francesco al Corso. That has an even looser connection to the Romeo & Juliet story.

We did, however, find a more modern interpretation of the story in a small square near our hotel.

 

Romeo & Juliet

I recall another association with the Romeo & Juliet tale, only this was in Kaštela Croatia in 2014. I suspect that goes to show love stories of this ilk, at a time when politics & family connections were more important, abounded as some couples gave way to the demands of love.