The Verona statue of Juliet, the heroine of probably the most famous love story of William Shakespeare “Romeo and Juliet”, was worn out by the constant caresses and touches of tourists: a hole was discovered on her right breast. Already 10 years ago, the original was replaced with a copy for the same reason, according to the local press, cited by News.ro.

The famous statue of Juliet, located in the courtyard of a house on Via Cappello in Verona, was seriously damaged due to numerous “favors” from tourists.

The bronze reproduction of the figure of Juliet has become a victim of wear and tear due to the constant touch of visitors. A small hole appeared on the right side of the sculpture’s chest, which especially attracted tourists, who consider this gesture a symbol of good luck in their love stories. Now this scene has become a mandatory tradition, especially among young couples.

The statue of Juliet attracts visitors of all ages from all over the world. The bronze figure stands under a balcony in the small courtyard where Romeo is said to have wooed Juliet, attracting hundreds of visitors each day to take selfies and touch her breasts in a ritual believed to bring good luck. love. However, it is believed that the sweat on their hands caused the small hole to appear.

Already for the second time, a large number of touches spoils the statue of Juliet. In 2014, the original statue, which had stood in the courtyard for more than 40 years, was replaced with a replica that cost €15,000, funded by a Catholic association.

The modern statue of Juliet is a reproduction of the statue made in 1972 by the sculptor Nereo Constantini. This replica replaced the original work, which was damaged a decade ago due to wear and tear caused by the weather and the constant touch of visitors.

The municipality of Verona will now have to assess whether a similar intervention is needed for the damaged statue and is also considering a project to review access to the site. The administration has already launched a new experimental entrance from the side of the Teatro Nuovo, keeping only the entrance to the courtyard, with a possible transition to a paid entrance for visiting the courtyard. However, this project is related to the resolution of disputes with other types of activities that are in the yard, which is not the exclusive property of the municipality.

Juliet was at the center of controversy in December after the headmaster of a school in Tuscany criticized the breast-touching ritual as “sexist”, reports The Guardian.

“The damaged statue needs to be repaired, there is no doubt about that,” journalist Enrico Ferro wrote on the local news site il Mattino di Padova. “Nevertheless, we must also think about the future. Is it fair to continue to allow tourists to touch Juliet’s breasts? Or perhaps it would be more appropriate to accept the argument of the principal who found her sexist?” – says the journalist.

Davide Albertini, vice president of the area’s small business association, suggested placing the statue higher. “Also, maybe I would put a mailbox under it to store letters from lovers,” he told the publication. “Maybe it would be a more romantic ritual,” added Albertini.

The courtyard is adjacent to the Casa di Giulietta, a restored 13th-century building once owned by the noble del Cappello family, who locals believe inspired Shakespeare to set Juliet’s fictional Capulet family in Romeo and Juliet. In the 20th century, a balcony was added to the building.

Today, Casa di Giulietta is a museum with a collection of paintings, Renaissance costumes and the bed that appeared in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. But most tourists skip the museum to see the statues.