Verona: Art, Love and MusicSource: Club di Guilietta (Forgive me but I cannot decipher the author's name)
If You love Shakespeare
don't leave Verona
without dropping a flower
on Juliet's grave
There is no world
without Verona's walls
Location: Piazza Bra
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Piazza Bra - Verona Arena
Curious, I went to check the continuation...
"There is no world without Verona walls,—William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Act III, Scene III
But purgatory, torture, hell itself.
Hence-banished is banish'd from the world,
And world's exile is death."
Alright, before we visit Romeo and Juliet's house, let me share with you the true historical love story of the two.
Romeo Montecchi (Montague) and Guilietta Capuleti met and died in 1302. At that time the Montecchi were Guelphs who supported the Pope; whereas the Capuleti were Ghibellines who supported the HRE. Thus it is clear that the two families were rivals and the lovers got caught in a terrible feud.
In addition, Shakespeare was not the original writer of “Romeo and Juliet” though he was inspired by Luigi da Porto (of Vicenza) story written in the 1520s. Shakespeare dramatized the story in 1595 and mixed with some other adaptations.
Source: Hiltrud Nupp, Vicenza, Italy, with Troop 295
Now we are ready to find traces of Romeo and Juliet...
Second stop: Piazza delle Erbe.
Check Bflygal Trails: Visit Piazza delle Erbe
Just round the corner you can find Via delle Arche Scaligere or simply Romeo’s House.
Address: 4, Via Arche Scaligere
The Gothic house with it’s façade in brick was built in the fourteenth century. The house Romeo lived in belonged to Cagnolo Nogarola and therefore it is also called Casa Di Cagnolo Nogarola (detto Romeo). Its set up is similar to Juliet’s home - Casa di Giulietta. Unfortunately it is not open for visiting so other than a sign on the wall there is nothing much to see.
O, Where is Romeo?
Tut, I have lost myself, I am not here;
This is not Romeo, He's some other where.
(Act 1, Scene 1)
There is also a restaurant (Italian Osteria) on the bottom floor.
Check here for the meaning of Osteria.
Walking down Romeo's house, around the next corner, a few steps more and you can find Casa di Giulietta or Juliet's house. You might not recognise this romantic twelth century house though because at the entrance, the walls are plastered with little pieces of paper. I personally was wondering what is so special about this building and had to take a double look to confirm it is Casa di Giulietta.
These little pieces of paper contained names and messages written by lovers all over the world and is supposedly a symbol of good fortune and everlasting love for one another. And with the advancement in technology, another way of writing to Juliet is via email. Most importantly, whether it is snail mail or email, these letters actually get replied.
The Juliet Club was born after the city of Verona received throngs of letters addressed to "Juliet, Verona". That was about 70 years ago. Receiving these heart-rendering tales of unrequited love and stalled passion by the penpals, Juliet secretaries, which are actually volunteers, decided to read, translate and reply these letters. Sometimes they play the role of aunt agony, sometimes they play the role of matchmaker.Whichever is the case, it is always gratifying to know that somewhere out there, "Juliet" is lending a listening ear and that definitely brings some hope to these fans. If you are interested, you too can write a snail mail or email to...
CLUB DI GIULIETTA - THE JULIET CLUB
via Galilei 3 - 37100 Verona
Tel: (+39) 045 533115
Email: info [at] julietclub.com
Oh one last thing to add, after I came back from Verona, I happen to read an article in Marie Claire on the movie Letters to Juliet. Set in Siena and Verona, this movie was adapted by the book Letters to Juliet by sisters Lise and Ceil Friedman in 2006. The book probably made gave The Juliet Club and its penpals more attention which is good.
It is a pity I did not drop by Siena. Probably next time.
Go through the passage way into the court yard.
A bronze statue of Juliet by sculptor Nereo Costantini stands in the courtyard.
It is much more crowded compared to Romeo's house, probably because it is open for public visiting.. and maybe because Juliet is much well-loved than Romeo. Afterall, in my memories, Romeo is just a tragic guy who forgot his first love after meeting Juliet, and who is rash and thus easily provoked to make lousy decisions causing grief to everybody around him. Juliet on the other hand is the calm and resourceful character who gives much thoughts before staging her fake death. Sadly though, fate has it that the star-crossed lovers have to accept death to be reunited together.
This building, originally dating back to the 12th century, was owned for a long period by the Dal Cappello family, whose coat-of-arms is carved into the keystone of the courtyard inner archway.
Its current appearance is the result of radical restoration work in 1936-1940, during which the elegant three-lobed windows, gothic-style doorway and famous balcony were all added to the interior facade.
Inside the house, going up the staircases will leads you to a spacious anti-chamber where the famous balcony is located. You can also find furnishings from the 16th-17th centuries, frescoes, and paintings relating to the story of Romeo and Juliet, as well as Renaissance ceramics from Verona.
Continue going through the various doors, you will find Juliet's bedroom, you can see the clothes they wore, and much more. In total there are actually 5 floors, amazing because when I look at the house from outside, I did not expect it to be so big.
After leaving Juliet's house, drop by the souvernir shop as they do have some interesting items for sale.
Tip 1
Photos are allowed but not flash photography.
Tip 2
There are security around the house to ensure nothing improper is done.
Tip 3
While you are in the various rooms, take a peek out the windows, especially as you get to the higher levels.
Admission Fee
6 euros (or free with Verona Card)
Opening Hours
8.30am-7.30pm Tue-Sun,
1.30pm-7.30pm Mon
Last stop will be to drop a flower on Juliet's grave before leaving Verona.
(Remember the bronze book at the start of the post...)
Tomba di Giulietta
The convent, which previously belonged to the Cappuccini Monks, dates from the XIII century. Juliet's (fake) tomb however only dates back to 1937. That year, the Director of Veronese Museums Antonio Avena decided to give a new face to the site most identified as the place of burial of the Shakespearean heroine. An ancient red marble sarcophagus had lain in the garden of the former convent for decades, or perhaps even centuries. Without any cover, this completely empty sarcophagus was indicated as the place of burial of the beautiful Juliet, as early as the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Admission Fee
4.50 euros or free with Verona Card
Landmarks related to Romeo and Giuliette
3) Arche Scaligere
4) Casa di Giulietta
6) Piazza Bra / Verona Arena
7) Tomba di Giulietta
Source:
The Juliet Club
Lia Valenzuela
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