Romeo and Juliet, the most tragic love story dubbed my many, was written by William Shakespeare with the city of Verona as its background. There, lived a young couple by the name of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet who tragically fall in love with each other and died next to each other. Some noted, they fight against time to prove that their love can last forever.
Of course, as a young girl, i dreamt of going to Verona. I wanted to visit Juliet's house and to standing in the balcony acted like a girl waiting for her Romeo. So, it makes absolute sense that Verona should be on my list to visit.
I boarded the train from Milano Centrale to Stazione Porta Nuova Verona. We went to the station at 9.00 and the only train left was the 11.25 regular train. So, that's our choice. Just 30 minutes before boarding, all of a sudden, the train was cancelled! WHAATT??!! This is what we face with Italian train system. Good thing we checked the board like every 10 minutes but still, it piss us off. We run to the bibliegetti, or the ticketing office to renew or change our ticket. And there was a long que! perfect.. just perfect.. Good thing that we can upgrade our class to freccabianca which departed 10 minutes. Bad news was we have to pay more. But whatever.. as long as I could get to Verona, few more Euros should be fine..
The travel to Verona with freccabianca took around one hour. We arrived there and greeted with cold weather. No one to ask where to go but we finally found our way. First, we bought our bus ticket in the station's tabbaceria or tobacco store. Then we headed to the bus stop just in front of the station. We took bus no 12 to the central (no 11 and 13 also went there but we didn't managed to get on the bus).
It was just like 15 minutes, or less, to the central of the city called Arena. Arena is the smaller and less exotic version of Rome's colloseum. It was in ruin but in the day I went there, it would be used as venue for Christmas concert. So we concluded that the inside would not be as bad as Colloseum.
We headed straight to Juliet's house which located in Via Capello. From Arena, took the road on the left that heads to Via Capello. Walk straight up along the shopping street until we find Piazza delle Erbe. Turn right and the house of Juliet is less than 100 meters away on the left side. The sign board was dimmed with drawing but we knew right away because many turned there as well.
Upon entering Juliet's house, we never expected it to be so small. The balcony is small too. But whatever. I was in Juliet's houuuseee... hahaahahahaha...
In front of the house, there is Juliet's statute in gold. People said that if we rub her breast, we will be destined to come back to Verona. But I didn't do it because after looking at a young man doing it, I lost all appetite to do so. Heheheheeh.. Another thing that fascinated me is the locked hanged in the door of Juliet's backyard. According to the people there (again), they are the symbol of love birds who wish their love to be locked forever. After my journey in Paris, I learned that this tradition also exists in France with the same meaning. So, Seoul! You are not the only one with the love-lock tradition.
As I learned more afterward, the balcony was not built until later in 1930s. Only the bedroom of Juliet is actually most recognized by people because it is featured in the classic Romeo & Juliet's movie by Zafirelli. I love that movieee... but sadly not as much as I love Leonardo DiCaprio's one. hehehehehe..
Aside from the bed, balcony, breast and lockets, Casa di Guiletta is the home to letters addressed to Juliet. If you ever see the movie called "Letters to Juliet", that's one of the prime sample. The tradition, as many said, started in 1930s when many sent letters addressed to Juliet telling her their love story. To be honest, I sent mine as well. I wrote it on the train to Verona, telling Juliet about one long lost love who never seems to fade away. I just wish one could hear.. Whether it is Juliet or her Romeo..
Romeo's house, not like Juliet's, is not open for public. There I learnt that Romeo and Juliet existed in past as two separate personalities coming from the house of Capulet and Montague. Shakespeare took the liberty to develop a story from their names regardless the fact that there was nothing happen between the real Juliet and Romeo in their lifetime. But who cares? Many was captured anyway..
Just like me.. But Piazza delle Erbe was the one that captured my heart. It is a very nice piazza, with romantic restaurants surrounding its clock tower. So romantic, so beautiful... and with all the street performers, I feel the classic European atmosphere. Oh Romeo, I am in love with your Verona..
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