"Verona - yes; Romeo and Juliet - no " a Verona Travel Page by iandsmith

I have this thing about Romeo and Juliet and Verona. It irks me that millions, literally, have flocked to the place and wish to believe in a myth when, all around them, is far more interesting history.
Some facts, however unpalatable they may be to some, are as follows. The original play was actually written by Luigi di Porta from Vicenza in the 1520's. The many ballets, films, poems and dramas (including a Mr. Bill Shakespeare's) are all based on that.
As to the Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's house) at via Cappello, 27, where crowds throng to see the oft-mentioned balcony, what you get is a restored 13th century inn with a small marble balcony that fits the bill in people's imagination but, in reality, has nothing to do with the story.
A few streets away, in via Arche Scaligeri, you can also view a Casa di Romeo and, if you're really desperate, there's a Tomba di Giulietta, so-called to satisfy the non-discerning, in a crypt below the cloister of San Francesco al Corso.

Something like this does much more for me, speaking personally and unromantically of course. The fabulous bronze door panels of San Zeno Maggiore are primitive in their nature powerful in their impact.
What you might first believe to be solid bronze doors are, in fact, 48 panels nailed to the west doors.
The ones on the left, dating from an earlier church, can be dated to 1030AD while the right hand entry door came after the earthquake in 1137.
The early ones are from a craftsman of Germanic origin though three craftmen in all can be identified.
The most prominent depictions are those of warriors with Ottoman-style headpieces (see my general pages) though the majority are religious motifs.
I would much rather spend half an hour looking at something like this than a meaningless balcony.
Now I've got that off my chest, I do hope you enjoy my Verona pages.