The city of Verona, in northern Italy, is found at the foot of the Lessini Mountains, west of Venice

 “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” -- William Shakespeare (from Romeo and Juliet, spoken by Juliet)

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(on the Adige River in the Veneto region of Italy) The city of Verona, in northern Italy, is found at the foot of the Lessini Mountains, 65 miles (104 km) west of Venice, So splendid was medieval Verona that its reputation alone inspired Shakespeare to set two plays here (Romeo and Juliet and The Two Gentlemen of Verona). Though its connection to the actual Capulets is tenuous at best, "Juliet's House" draws half a million tourists every ("normal") year, many of them keen on reenacting the balcony scene. Beyond the Renaissance romance, however, Verona boasts a bustling center -- its heart dominated by a mammoth, remarkably well-preserved 1st-century amphitheater, the venue for the city's annual summer opera festival. Add to that numerous churches, architecturally fascinating bridges over the Adige, regional wine and food from the Veneto hinterland and some impressive art, and Verona makes for one of northern Italy's most attractive cities. Juliet's house is a spectacle; its walls are lined with love notes, many attached with chewing gum. Above, is the famous balcony, tourists taking their turn to have pictures taken against the 'romantic background.