THE city is situated in northern Italy at the foot of Monte Lessini on the River Adige. In its urban structure and its architecture, Verona is an outstanding example of a town that has developed progressively and uninterruptedly over 2,000 years, incorporating artistic elements of the highest quality from each succeeding period. The city of Verona is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy.
The city is best known for the wonderful and tragic love story between Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s most famous play. It was first performed in 1594 and has been performed more times than any of his other plays during his lifetime. It is said that the storyline is not entirely his own. Many people trace it back to an old Italian tale based on the lives of two lovers who tragically died for each other in Verona in 1303. The city considers itself the hometown of Romeo and Juliet. Said to be Juliet’s house is a 13th century building with an internal court is dominated by the famous balcony attributed to Juliet’s bedroom. Juliet’s bedroom is furnished with the bed used in Franco Zeffirelli’s film Romeo e Giulietta from 1968. The romantic atmosphere of this place makes it one of the major attractions of the city.
Juliet Club in the city receives letters written about their love life addressed to Juliet from all over the world. There are about 50 volunteers known as Juliet’s secretaries to answer letters in different languages. The first official secretary of Juliet was the guardian of Juliet tomb in 1930s who collected the letters left by visitors and wrote back to them.
For four days each February, Verona becomes “Verona in Love” – a festival all about amore, baci e passione (love, kisses and passion).
