Juliet statue in Verona damaged, may pose risk to tourists

(ANSA) – Verona, October 10 – The statue portraying the fictional female in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet play has been damaged by the affectionate gestures of tourists over the years rubbing their hands against the effigy located in a courtyard in the Northern Italian town of Verona as part of a traditional good-luck rite. The actions, protracted over a long period of time and multiplied by numerous visitors to the “Casa di Giulietta” building, have created two holes which are widening over time as a result of renewed friction, to the point that the statue may even become unstable and a danger to visitors passing through, according to Giuseppe Franco Viviani, who works at the Agriculture, Science and Literature Academy of the city. Juliet’s house, with her statue and its renowned balcony where Shakespeare was allegedly inspired to the point of penning his love-torn tale, is one of Italy’s most-visited tourist sites. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED