Romeo and Juliet in Verona: a romantic itinerary through history, legend and iconic places
From Juliet’s House to Juliet’s Tomb, a journey through the real locations of the tragedy by William Shakespeare in the heart of Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
The love story of Romeo and Juliet, known all over the world, is a legend born from the vivid imagination of William Shakespeare, who in turn drew inspiration from an earlier novella. And yet Verona, the city inextricably linked to the fate of the two ill-fated lovers, preserves several real historical places that form the backdrop to the Shakespearean tragedy — because a grain of truth does exist.
The Montecchi family (to which Romeo belonged) was in fact one of the most important Ghibelline dynasties in Verona, and the conflict with the Guelphs truly stained the city with blood during the 13th century. Likewise, the surname Capuleti (Juliet’s family) is believed to be a corruption of “Cappelletti,” a family mentioned by Dante in the Divine Comedy, originally mercenaries in the service of Venice.
In short, this Venetian city — already a jewel of architecture filled with evocative views and whose historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — becomes the ideal destination for a historical itinerary dedicated to love.
A tour through the places that set the scene for the story of the two young lovers must begin with Juliet’s House, today considered one of Verona’s most iconic monuments. It is located at number 23 Via Cappello, just a few steps from the lively Piazza delle Erbe. Above the large archway of the courtyard stands the coat of arms of the Cappello family, making it easy to understand how, over time, the names “Cappello” and “Capuleti” came to overlap.
The house dates back to the 13th century and was restored in the 1930s by Antonio Avena. Its brick façade features the famous balcony where Juliet is said to have awaited her beloved Romeo. In the courtyard stands a bronze statue of Juliet, created by Nereo Costantini (the current one is a copy), whose heart visitors traditionally touch while making wishes and promises of love. Today, the house hosts temporary exhibitions and is also available as a wedding venue.
A short distance away, in Via delle Arche Scaligere, stands what is known as Romeo’s House. Believed to have been the residence of the Montecchi family, it is an imposing building arranged on three sides around a courtyard with porticoes decorated in tuff and terracotta. The street-facing façade features a picturesque crenellated wall above the arched entrance.
The building is privately owned and cannot be visited inside, but you can admire its exterior or stop by the section that houses the Osteria del Duca, a restaurant serving traditional local cuisine. Walking from Romeo’s House to Juliet’s House (or vice versa) is particularly evocative, allowing visitors to imagine the anxiety and emotion Romeo may have felt along the way — a route that once simply crossed what was then the Botanical Garden.
Finally, a tour inspired by Shakespeare cannot end anywhere other than Juliet’s Tomb, or what tradition has identified as such. It is located within a former monastery just outside Verona’s ancient city walls, a site that already existed in the Middle Ages. The appearance of the place was later altered according to a project by Avena to make it more evocative. Juliet’s Tomb can be found at Via Pontiere 35.
