The river Adige which winds through the town, quaint streets covered with marble, the Arena stately stone buildings with beautiful ornaments and windows in Byzantine style is the setting for a romantic street scene in Verona old town.
La città dell'amore - City of Love is a name that has adorned Verona in recent years. In the historic center, where the river meanders in a U-shape, you walk on marble pavements between architectural memories from Roman times, ornate medieval buildings, impressive Romanesque and Gothic churches, charming squares and tempting osterie.
At dusk, the environment with the many old, lovingly restored buildings and a dim light, you come automatically into a romantic mood, if you then look out over the River Adige from the bridge at the castle Castelvecchio, whether enjoying a cappuccino at poet Dante space or sipping an aperitif in front of the two-thousand year old Arena, you're sure to get in the mood.
Verona's past wings, takes you back to the medieval family feuds of William Shakespeare, who took inspiration for the story of Romeo and Juliet. Tourists flock from all over the globe to Verona, to see the famous balcony where Juliet supposedly stood in the evening to meet with her beloved Romeo.
The house is located in the immediate vicinity of the city's magnificent square, Piazza Erbe, the former vegetable market, and you will instantly spot it from the groups of tourists moving in and out of the gate in a steady stream. On both walls of the gate there are written names and drawn hearts, besides many notes stuck up with chewing gum, especially from young teenage couples who want to manifest love with that special someone.
The modern graffiti is in stark contrast to the small inner courtyard with its grand façade appears with a properly appointed balcony. At the end of the yard are loads of padlocks on a wall - these too are a symbol of eternal love. The key is thrown in the river, and the closed padlock means that you are linked for life. And if you're heartbroken, leave a letter in Juliet's postbox on the 3rd floor!
Every day there is a tour of inside the house, which is now a museum. Julie's home is spread over four floors, and here you get the impression of how the Giulietta and other Gentlemen of Verona lived in the 14th century, although sometimes a collection of modern art in these spaces.
On the first floor there is a hall decorated with ancient wall paintings, which today serves for wedding ceremonies. It is possible to get married in this house. For couples who do not have permanent residence in the city you are looking at a cost of 800 euros, while the residents of Verona may only have to pay half also choose from music with typical classical instruments such as the harp or violin. And you can't get married here without getting your photos from Juliet's balcony and the various rooms.
However many elements of the tragic love story of Shakespeare are true, it will forever be left to the imagination. Based on historical documents, it can be stated that the respective families Capuleti (also called Cappelletti) and Montecchi has existed in Verona since the Middle Ages. Dante Alighieri also mentioned these families in the Italians' largest and most famous literary works of all time "The divine comedy".
At a time when the word marketing was not even invented yet, the city showed the initiative to do the right thing to boost the city's tourism. Ten minutes walk from Juliet's home, you can see the house where Romeo Montecchi family lived. It is easily recognizable because it is the only building with original dove-tail spikes on top. Many castles and grand buildings of Verona and the surrounding area has these typical reminiscences of a dovetail. Verona was exposed to many bombings during the Second World War - including all the city's bridges were blown up.
After the many years the gates are a little worse for wear after the damage they obviously suffered through wind, weather and wars for centuries, while the gates of all other buildings are in better condition because they have been refurbished. Another important monument belonging to the romantic Verona, Juliet's tomb.
It is said that Juliet was buried in a monastery, and after that her fate was known abroad, notably by Charles Dickens, there came many visitors from all corners of the world. The monks became tired of it, so Juliet's remains were removed. Today you can see it in the basement of the former monastery, where a room is dedicated to Juliet's tomb.
In the monastery there is a museum. For me, it feels a little macabre, to begin a marriage where a loving couple's life ended tragically, but Juliet's tomb is a popular location for foreign marriage. In particular, there are many Englishmen who are getting married in Verona or in the romantic little town of Malcesine on Lake Garda, upto 400 couples in fact!
Urban governance want to mark that Verona as the city of love for couples of all ages. If you want to celebrate an anniversary day copper, silver, or even golden wedding, you can also organize an official ceremony for these too. In addition to Juliet's house and grave you can also get married at the town hall, or in an elegant floor of the flamboyant former courthouse Palazzo della Ragione, but there is also the option to hold the ceremony in a variety of elegant villas in the city and outside Verona . In these villas that are beautiful country houses or estates in lush surroundings, it is usually possible to have a party afterwards ceremony, often in a pretty garden where there is room for several hundred guests.
For more info: www.sposamiaverona.it
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