House of Romeo

Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous tragedies in literary history and is set in the city of Verona, Italy. While the story is just a play written by William Shakespeare, the tourism it generates for the Italian city is very real.

One of the most visited landmarks in Verona is Juliet’s Balcony, located inside what is called the “House of Juliet,” but is actually just the former residence of a local noble family. Similarly, visitors can find the “House of Romeo” not far from his lover’s home. This 14th-century palace is located on a narrow road in the center of Verona and belonged to Cagnolo Nogarola, a Veronese noble of French descent. It’s a typical medieval residence decorated with Ghibelline-style merlons and fortifications, complete with a large internal courtyard.

Later confiscated by Cangrande I Della Scala, Lord of Verona, the palace was returned to the Nogarola family after the Della Scala were deposed in 1387, but was later sold multiple times. In the early 20th-century, the building was set to become a museum dedicated to Shakespeare, but due to war, the plans were canceled and it was transformed into a stable. The palace was restored by the new owners who refused to sell it to the local government to turn it into a museum. It is now a private residence that can be enjoyed only from the outside, except for a small section that hosts a restaurant.