Casa di Giulietta

This obligatory port of call for any visitor to Verona is said to be the very residence that inspired Shakespeare in writing his most famous star-crossed lovers. Built in the 13th Century, this Gothic-style home once belonged to the dell Capello family, which fans of Romeo and Juliet will notice sounds strikingly similar to Juliet's last name: Capulet. It was built on the remains of a Roman insula, an ancient urban housing unit, and today plays host to a small museum filled with antiques from the 16th Century on. The site's famous balcony overlooks a courtyard renovated by Antonio Avena in 1935, which also features a bronze Juliet statue created by sculptor Nereo Costantini. History buffs and literature lovers often stop for a photo in front of the historic and romantic Casa di Giulietta.