What if you could step inside a love story?
In Verona, Italy, you can come surprisingly close. Shakespeare may have created Romeo and Juliet, but Verona has embraced their tragic romance so completely that wandering its cobblestone streets can feel like stepping onto the pages of the play. There’s Juliet’s house and its famous balcony, Romeo’s house just a short walk away, a centuries-old “Well of Love,” and even a place known as Juliet’s tomb. And yes, there’s a bronze Juliet whose statue comes with its own romantic superstition: rub her right breast, and legend says you’ll have good fortune in love.
But Verona is more than a pilgrimage for Shakespeare fans. It’s a beautiful Italian city of ancient monuments, intimate piazzas, historic churches, cafés, shops, and winding streets that invite you to slow down and explore. In this traveler’s guide, Jade Hernandez follows the trail of Romeo and Juliet through Verona, sharing what it’s like to stand on Juliet’s balcony, leave a letter for Juliet, discover the places connected to the play—and even pause to read Shakespeare in the city that has made his fictional lovers part of its identity.
Whether you’re a lifelong Romeo and Juliet fan, a hopeless romantic, a lover of literary travel, or simply dreaming about your next trip to Italy, Verona offers a particularly irresistible question: What better place to fall in love with a love story? Read on for a journey through Juliet’s fair Verona.
