“O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.”
Ah Verona. The city of love. Forever etched in our memories through Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Two Gentlemen of Verona, Verona is a magnetic draw to couples from around the globe. As Suzy and I sat companionably in silence, enjoying our complementary breakfast at our “four star” hotel, we began to notice that we were one of the few tables in the morning room that didn’t host a fondling couple. Wandering the city, signs of these couple’s affections are carved or painted onto walls (this is the main way to recognize the archway to the Capulet’s home!) Perhaps the most interesting Veronese tradition is the myriad of interconnected locks that can be found around the city, sporting the name of star-crossed lovers. Padlocks in a myriad of colors, imprinted by Sharpies, drape from bars around the city; locked together, the key gone forever in the keeping of the lovers.
The city itself is lovely. Reminiscent of the smaller and lesser known Lucca, Verona is filled with brightly painted homes in brilliant repair. Shops gleam with opulent displays and a wide winding river flows in the midst of the town, separating hilly viewpoints from city squares. Atop the grand staircase leading to Castel San Pietro, I could see amidst the tall evergreens a breathtaking view of the Alige River and its surrounding cityscape. Bridges spanned the link of the river linking the world of history to outside suburbia. The rush of the water and the swish of the wind provided a musical accompaniment to such a relaxing vista. From this heightened perspective, it was easy to see how Shakespeare fell in love and was inspired by vivid Verona.
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