This is one of the most historic and picturesque squares in Italy.
In antiquity, it served as a Roman forum. Today, it contains many historic
buildings, sculptures with a popular and colorful market overflowing with fresh
fruits and vegetables. Every direction one looks, history crowds in on you -
the 15th century Colonna Antica, the 14th century Capitello, the 14th century
Madonna Verona fountain, and the Gardello
Tower.
Juliet’s House
One cannot visit Verona
and not visit Juliet's House and Balcony, as touristy as the place may be. It
is only a few minutes from Piazza dell'Erbe, and is best visited early in the
morning, before swamped with tour groups. Follow the signs to the small courtyard
at 27 Via Capello. There one will see a bronze statue of Juilet and the balcony
supposedly immortalized by Shakespeare. On the rare times when it is empty, the
courtyard has a romantic air, with leafy vines overgrowing the attractive
graffiti-bedecked walls. Visiting the courtyard is
free, but there is an entrance fee to the building, which has a small museum
and gift shop, though there are better ones elsewhere in the city.
La Casa di Giulietta was an inn owned by the
Capuletti family. The house dates back to the 13th century and has a brick
façade with large windows. It has been given its official title because Verona began to take advantage of tourism in the early 20th
Century. The city further capitalized on the story by arbitrarily placing Juliet's
tomb in the crypt of San Francesco al Corso. Romeo's house is supposedly on the
Via della Arche Scaligeri.
Is this really the place where Romeo first declared his star crossed love
for the fair Juliet? One might have one’s doubts, but standing in the
courtyard, looking up at the balcony, it is a romantic thing to imagine.
Church of San Francisco al Corso
It is said that the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet has its beginning and
end in this church. Here, it is said, the two star crossed lovers were married.
Here, in the cloisters it is said, lays Juliet’s tomb.