For the Love of Verona

The first time I visited Italy in April of 2005, I found my senses wholly overwhelmed by the beauty of the country, its landscape, its food, its language, a culture steeped in thousands of years of history.  It was a revelation to see up close and personal, places and artifiacts that I had only read about in books or seen in movies.  My trip took me through Milan, Verona, Venice, Florence, Assisi, Rome, Naples and even Pompeii.  It was the trip of a lifetime and it marked the beginning of my special sentimental realtionship to the country.  Of all the cities I visited, Verona is the one I hold closest to my heart.  On the day I visited Verona, it seemed to me the most romantic of all the Italian cities because of its obvious connection to Shakespeare and his play "Romeo and Juliet".  It was and remains my most favored work by the Bard.  I first read it in my freshman year of high school when I was scarcely older than the lovestruck protaganists of the story.  We were taken to see the play and I was riveted, captured by the purity and intensity with which Romeo and Juliet loved one another despite their young age and the unfortunate circumstances that unfold leading to the infamous tragic ending.  For a 14 year-old girl who had never experienced such a love, it really spoke to me about the complexities of life and love and how two people could be so devoted to one another, they would rather die than live without each other. 
So now flash forward to April 12, 2005 where roughly 19 years after I first read the story of the star-crossed lovers, I am standing under the balcony at Guiletta's home where the famous scene in the play is set.  Of course, there is controversy surrounding the story and its telling and retelling and whether or not the story is fiction, which from my online research it is not, but neither has Shakespeare been the first to document it.  However, this post is not about the history of the play but rather its significance in the fair city of Verona where I lay my scene.  Being a lover of the play I was fascinated by the 13th century structure and balcony and even the statue of Juliet in the corner of the courtyard, who it is said can bring those who place their hand on her left breast, good luck.  Not so awe-inspiring was the cheesy souvenir/gift shop a few feet away which I am sure did not exist in the 13th century.  The walls are graffiti-covered and there are post-it notes adhered to the wall with gum, covering almost every available surface lining the entrance to the courtyard.  It is unsavory to look at it but only if you are missing the fact that on those gummed post it notes wallpapering the area along with the graffiti, are the names of thousands of lovers.  Upon first glance it is this mix with the old and the new that strikes one the most. 
On the day I visited, I did not have a name to add to the wall with mine but was content to be in this amazingly romantic inspiring city nonetheless.  How fitting for me and my love of romance and of  the story of "Romeo and Juliet", that on this day, in this beautiful city, surrounded by history, thousands of miles from home I would meet the man who would become my husband.  Thus, the special place in my heart for Verona, not only for my love of Shakespeare but as the place where as sappy and as wacky as it sounds,  I finally found my true love.   I have since visited Verona twice more and my husband and I plan on returning early next year for the first time in nearly six years.  It is a trip I cannot wait to make and will be extra special because we will be bringing the two children (a boy and girl) we have had along with my first son from a previous relationship to the extraordinary city where it all began for us.  I know that universally, Paris is known as the "City of Love", but for me, that is and always will be Verona.