My Trip In Italy (Part 2B): Verona – Casa di Giulietta

If the stunning Aida opera performance in the Verona Arena embodied love sung at full volume, then the legend of Romeo and Juliet would be a quiet household whisper. It’s fascinating to see how both tales have captured imaginations of countless generations. As I stood there in Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House), I couldn’t help but wonder: what is it about this story that continues to resonate to this day?

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

Written by famous English playwright and poet William Shakespeare sometime between 1591 and 1595, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is among the most performed plays of all time along with additional Shakespearean works such as Hamlet. Portraying two young Italian lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, whose love is thwarted by their feuding Verona families, the play follows their secret marriage and Romeo’s banishment before ultimately ending with their suicides and their families’ reconciliation.

Interestingly, the seemingly straightforward plot holds double meanings. On one hand, it depicts a powerful love that defies societal constraints and expectations. On the other hand, it serves as a grave warning against the unwanted consequences and dangers of impulsive decisions.

What Makes The Story Special?

Let’s face it, Romeo and Juliet is not the first love story to be written. However, Shakespeare leverages a unique trait that makes the fundamental difference between just another story and a renowned classic – the play’s high relatability. It accurately describes common hurdles that young people face, including parental pressure, unnecessary hastiness, and misunderstanding. It’s an all-too-familiar description of idealized imaginative love clashing with a harsh reality, and it’s precisely this exploration of challenging yet often unaddressed aspects of life that has elevated this story to a legend.

Commercialization of This Age-old Classic

With so many devout young believers of the Romeo and Juliet fantasy, it’s unsurprising that Verona has commercialized the story into an internationally-recognized ‘brand’ identity that has helped boost its tourism industry.

A clear example of this commercialization is the aforementioned Juliet’s House. A medieval building located in Via Cappello in Verona, it’s the primary physical embodiment of Shakespeare’s story and an extremely popular destination of secular pilgrimage. Entering through a passageway from the street, visitors are greeted by a moderately-sized courtyard. To the right is the famous Juliet’s Balcony, a representation of the theatrical depiction of Romeo and Juliet’s ‘balcony scene’ that was added in the 20th century to attract visitors. Interestingly enough, Shakespeare’s original play actually described Juliet at a window, though the balcony image has since become a powerful symbol of the young couple’s short-lived romance. The design of this particular balcony has since been immortalized as a ‘Juliet balcony’, a term now synonymous with the modern architectural feature of shallow balconies featuring a railing and minimal functional walking space. Furthermore, there’s a belief that touching the breast of the bronze Juliet statue that stands in the courtyard’s middle brings good luck.

In addition to Juliet’s balcony, there are also many other locations in Verona that embody the Shakespearean tragedy, including Romeo’s House and Juliet’s Tomb. Are they worth visiting as landmarks? Definitely not. Are they worth ‘experiencing’ as elements of a fantasy? Certainly, if you’re a devoted believer of Romeo and Juliet.

Conclusion

Some people believe that Verona has overly commercialized the Shakespearean classic, yet others believe it’s well-earned recognition that should be applauded. What do you think?

Thank you for reading. Make sure to be subscribed to not miss out on future updates.