Juliet balcony is one of the best visited places in Verona. Every year, nearly 1.6 million visitors flock to this spot to glimpse a balcony that was never featured in Shakespeare’s original text and belongs to a house that had nothing to do with the fictional Capulets.
Yet somehow, this 13th-century medieval home has become one of the world’s most famous literary landmarks!
The fascinating journey of Juliet’s Balcony represents something unique in cultural history – how a playwright’s imagination from 400+ years ago created a tourist destination that never actually existed in his work.
In this article, I’ll take you through the remarkable transformation of an ordinary medieval residence into a global symbol of romantic love.
The Medieval Origins of “Casa di Giulietta”
I remember my surprise when I first learned that the building now known as “Juliet’s House” was indeed medieval – just not the Capulet family home!
The structure dates back to the 13th century and belonged to the dell’Cappello (or Cappelletti) family. Sound familiar? That surname bears a striking resemblance to “Capuleti,” Shakespeare’s Italian family name.
The original building served as a typical medieval family residence for wealthy merchants in Verona.
Archaeological work during various restoration projects revealed that the home underwent several modifications throughout the centuries.
The courtyard where thousands now gather daily was once a private family space, and the famous balcony? It wasn’t even part of the original structure!
What fascinates me most is how the dell’Cappello family had no idea their home would one day become a global tourist attraction. They were simply a prominent Veronese family going about their lives in medieval Italy.
The building features classic elements of northern Italian medieval architecture, including the internal courtyard design that was common for wealthy families of that era.
The connection between the real dell’Cappello family and Shakespeare’s fictional Capulets remains debated among scholars. Some suggest Shakespeare might have heard about real family feuds in Verona and adapted them, while others believe it’s simply a linguistic coincidence that he chose a name similar to a real Veronese family.
Shakespeare, Verona, and the Birth of a Legend
Did Shakespeare ever actually visit Verona? I’ve researched this question extensively, and most evidence suggests he likely never set foot in Italy!
Shakespeare probably drew inspiration from existing stories, particularly “The Tragical History of Romeu’s and Juliet,” a 1562 poem by Arthur Brooke, which itself was based on Italian tales dating back to the 1530s.
The earliest versions of the Romeo and Juliet story appear in Italian literature, specifically in works by Luigi da Porto and Matteo Bandello in the early 16th century. These writers set the tale in Verona and mentioned real local families, which helped cement the connection between the city and the story.
The most iconic moment in the play was largely Shakespeare’s invention! Earlier versions didn’t feature this specific element, yet it became so fundamental to how we visualize the story that Verona created a physical manifestation of it centuries later.
The connection between Verona and Romeo and Juliet grew stronger in the 18th and 19th centuries as the Grand Tour brought wealthy Europeans to Italy.
Visitors began seeking out locations from the famous play, and local Veronese were happy to point to various sites that “inspired” Shakespeare. By the late 19th century, guidebooks were already directing tourists to the house on Via Cappello as “Juliet’s House” – despite the lack of any historical connection to the fictional character!
What’s Inside the Juliet Museum?
When I first visited Casa di Giulietta, I wasn’t sure what to expect inside. The museum itself occupies multiple floors of the medieval house and contains a mixture of period furnishings, artwork related to the Romeo and Juliet story, and artifacts from various film adaptations.
The interior was extensively renovated in the 1930s under museum director Antonio Avena, who aimed to recreate what he imagined a wealthy 14th-century Veronese home might look like.
Many of the furnishings aren’t original to the house but were collected from other period homes to create an atmospheric experience for visitors.
The museum also houses Renaissance-era costumes, paintings depicting scenes from the play, and ceramics from the medieval and Renaissance periods.
Perhaps the most moving part of the museum isn’t an artifact at all – it’s the thousands of love letters affixed to the walls or stuffed into crevices by visitors from around the world. The Juliet Club (Club di Giulietta) collects these letters and a team of volunteers even responds to many of them.
The famous bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard isn’t ancient either – it was created by sculptor Nereo Costantini in 1972!
The tradition of touching her right breast for luck in love has become so popular that the original statue was damaged from constant handling and had to be replaced with a replica in 2014. The original now rests safely inside the museum.
Why Does the Balcony Still Matter Today?
I’ve often wondered why this fictional location maintains such a powerful hold on our collective imagination. The balcony itself wasn’t even part of the original medieval home – it was added during Avena’s 1930s restoration, using elements from authentic medieval buildings. Essentially, it’s a 20th-century creation inspired by a 16th-century play based on 14th-century tales!
Yet standing there, watching couples from every corner of the world take photos, leave love notes, and even propose marriage, I understand its enduring appeal.
The balcony has transcended its fictional origins to become a real place where people express very real emotions.
It represents something universal – the hope, passion, and sometimes heartbreak of romantic love.
Psychologists have studied this phenomenon of literary tourism and found that people seek physical connections to stories that move them emotionally.
By touching the walls of Juliet’s house or standing beneath her balcony, visitors feel connected to the powerful themes of Shakespeare’s work in a tangible way that reading alone cannot provide.
The balcony has also become a powerful economic engine for Verona.
Tourism officials estimate that Romeo and Juliet-related tourism brings hundreds of millions of euros annually to the local economy.
This financial incentive ensures the legend will continue to be promoted, regardless of historical accuracy.
Perhaps most importantly, Juliet’s Balcony provides a rare space where expressions of romantic love are celebrated without cynicism. That’s what makes this place so important.
Can You Stand on Juliet’s Balcony?
Yes! This is one of my favorite facts to share about visiting Casa di Giulietta – you absolutely can stand on the famous balcony yourself!
When you purchase a ticket to enter the museum (it’s about 9 to12 euro), your visit includes the opportunity to step out onto the same balcony photographed by millions of visitors.
The balcony itself is fairly small – only about 3-4 people can comfortably stand on it at once.
During peak tourist season, this means you might have to wait your turn, but museum staff manage the flow of visitors to ensure everyone gets their moment.
The stone feels cool and ancient beneath your feet, even though this particular architectural feature was a much later addition to the medieval home.
One thing to note – there’s often a line to access this photo opportunity, especially during summer months or around Valentine’s Day.
I’d recommend visiting early in the morning or late afternoon if possible to minimize your wait time.
Even with the wait, standing where countless lovers have posed before you connects you to a century-old tradition that spans cultures, languages, and generations.
When Is the Best Time to Visit Juliet’s Balcony?
After multiple visits at different times of year, I’ve found early mornings on weekdays during shoulder season (April-May or September-October) offer the best experience.
The courtyard gets unbearably crowded during summer months, with July and August bringing tour groups that can make it difficult to even move, let alone take photos or appreciate the atmosphere.
Winter visits have their own charm – I once visited in late January and practically had the place to myself!
The downside was the colder temperatures, but seeing the courtyard quiet and contemplative offered a completely different experience than the bustling summer crowds. December can be lovely with holiday decorations, though the weather is less predictable.
If you’re visiting during peak season and can’t adjust your schedule, aim to arrive right when it opens (around 8:30-9:00 AM depending on the season) or in the late afternoon when many tour groups have departed.
Valentine’s Day sees special events at Casa di Giulietta, including extended hours and special programming. While romantically appropriate, this is possibly the most crowded single day of the year! I’d avoid it unless participating in the special activities is particularly important to you.
Is It Worth Visiting Even If You’re Not a Romantic?
Even as someone who appreciates history more than romance, I found Juliet’s House fascinating from a cultural perspective.
The site represents an extraordinary example of how literature shapes reality, rather than just reflecting it. For those interested in cultural studies, tourism history, or literary impact, there’s much to contemplate beyond the love story.
Architecture enthusiasts will appreciate the medieval elements of the structure, including the Gothic arched windows and traditional northern Italian courtyard design.
Though modified over centuries, the building still reflects authentic elements of medieval Veronese architecture worth studying.
What I find most intellectually stimulating is the site’s role in creating a “feedback loop” of cultural production – Shakespeare wrote about Verona, which led tourists to seek out his fictional locations, which led Verona to create those locations, which inspired films and books about those locations, bringing more tourists!
Finally, i want to tell you that yeah it can be one of the best places you ever visit.