One of the most visited spots in the city of Verona is not real. La Casa di Giulietta, Juliet’s house, and even more famously, Juliet’s balcony, is a figment of an author’s imagination. Now, William Shakespeare isn’t just any author, of course. Though he probably didn’t ever set foot in Verona.
And while the city of Verona has much more going for it than this balcony – just like Kronborg Castle is much more than just Hamlet’s Elsinore – the fictitious home of the Capulet family draws hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. Such is the power of a good story.
As you can see, this photo wasn’t exactly taken yesterday. I was 15, and on my first jaunt abroad without parents, when I waved from Juliet’s balcony. Don’t know if that’s still possible. However, Verona’s authorities are mighty tired of love declarations (and locks) stuck with gum on the wall beneath the balcony. So if you bring your significant other to this romantic spot, it’s probably best to look deeply into each other’s eyes and declare your love with words rather than attach it to the wall.
World at a Glance is a series of short articles here on Sophie’s World, with a single photo, portraying curious, evocative, happy, sad or wondrous, unexpected little encounters.
City of Verona is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Here are more UNESCO World Heritage sites I have visited around the world.
Keen to see more photos? Then hop over to Travel Photo Thursday for heaps of lovely travel inspiration.
Been there! Your post made me go back and look at my photos.
Often a fun activity that 🙂
I stared at this pic for a while, apart from looking dreamy the architecture looks like it could be a scene from a movie, like that “Love is All We Need” movie
🙂
so fabulous to look back over old travel photos isn’t it. I have been doing the same recently.
Happy travels. I am joining you today over at Travel Photo Thursday.
And to you 🙂
Hi Sophie, it must have been wonderful place to visit that place at 15, to feel that the stories you romanticize jumped out of the book and became almost real. The power of great fiction is truly fascinating.
It is indeed.
Traveling abroad solo, visiting such a lovely spot – Ahh, that must have made for such a wonderful experience, Sophie. Beautiful memories for sure!
It was certainly a fun trip, and educational in more ways than one 🙂
I’ve been there recently and the place is plastered with love locks and gum. Not that it seems to deter the visitors.
Sad 🙁
Hi Sophie! What a great photo and memory. One of these days I will get to Verona, visit the balcony and declare my undying love for myself…haha 🙂 Thanks for linking up last week! #TPThursday
As good as – or even better than – to a fictional character, I suppose 🙂
Even if it’s not real, one can dream about it as if it were … Italy makes it easy to do that!
Italy really does, doesn’t she…