[Photo Journal] Will the Real Juliet Please Stand Up – Casa Di Giulietta in Verona

Myra here.

Every Tuesday, we share photographs from our recent or long-ago travels, or just everyday stuff that appealed to our mindful eye and sharp sensibilities as captured through fleeting images.

Casa Di Giulietta (Juliet’s House)

Via Cappello, 23, 37121 Verona VR, Italy

 

While my family and I were staying in Milan last year, we made sure that we arranged a day-trip to Verona. While we had the option of going on a guided tour, we decided to wing it on our own, as part of our adventure. Hence, we booked our train tickets online two nights before our trip, then we came up with our own itinerary on where to go and what to do.

What is paramount for me, apart from seeing some book stores (see my book hunting expedition in Verona here), going to the arena and seeing some museums, is to go on a Romeo and Juliet pilgrimage. Verona, after all, is the birth place of this timeless tragic romance. Thus, Giuletta’s house it is.

It was not that difficult to find the place – there are groups of people doing a similar tour. We just followed the crowd, mostly. It was also customary for people to hold Juliet’s breast, which my husband very gamely did in the photo above.

I especially enjoyed looking at all these love notes tacked on Giuliette’s wall – wishes, remembrances, missives from the heart.

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“Don’t waste your love on somebody, who doesn’t value it.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow, 
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Juliet:
Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.

Romeo:
Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged.

Juliet:
Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

Romeo:
Sin from thy lips? O trespass sweetly urged!
Give me my sin again.

Juliet:
You kiss by the book. 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“Two households, both alike in dignity
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. 
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life 
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents’ strife.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.” 
― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Next week, I shall share photos from Giulietta’s tomb.