There was never a story sadder

“There was never a story sadder than that of Romeo and Juliet” William Shakespeare.
Nobody knows for sure if Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s romantic heroes, really existed, but millions of people go to Verona, Italy, to see ‘the house of Juliet’. This 13th-century house belonged to the Cappello family who had a daughter called Juliet.
Juliet Cappello was born on September 16, 1284. Probably legends and poems about her romance with a young man inspired Shakespeare to write his famous play in 1596.
Thousands of lovers from all over the world leave their love notes on the walls of the house.
There is the Juliet Club in Verona. Heartbroken men and women all over the world sent their letters to the Club. And each letter is answered!

This tradition dates from 1937, when the guardian of Juliet Cappello’s tomb found a letter at her grave. It had a very simple address — ‘to Juliet, Verona’ — and was written by an Englishman who was desperately in love with a girl. The guardian felt sorry and decided to write back pretending to be Juliet’s secretary.
Answering love letters isn’t an easy job. Most of the letters are written in Italian and English, but some are written in Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and other difficult languages. Some letters are very difficult to answer and volunteers have to ask a psychologist for help.
On September 16 there is a festival in Verona to celebrate Juliet’s birthday.

Romeo and Juliet of the ancient world
The tomb of Tutankhamun introduced all the beauties of art and culture of ancient Egypt to mankind. And demonstrated that the ancient Egyptians, including the gods and kings, were ordinary people, the same as we do – they grew up, fell in love …
Pictures on the walls of the tomb, on the back of the golden throne portrayed the young king with his charming girl-wife Anhesenamon.
Alas, the fate of lovers almost as sad as the story of teenagers from Verona: Romeo and Juliet were separated by a family feud, and Tutankhamun and Anhesenamon were separated by illness or injury, or conspiracy in the court… Why did Tutankhamun die at the age of 18? Maybe someday scientists will answer this question.
Howard Carter, who found the tomb of Tutankhamun, said: “The death and burial was the only event in his life”.
But he lived not in vain, he could tell us about the feelings of the ancient Egyptians. Tutankhamun’s wife left a bouquet of flowers on his sarcophagus. This bouquet, left 3,300 years ago, completed one of the most beautiful love stories of the ancient world.

Too short story
The Montagues and the Capulets were bitter enemies.
Romeo and Juliet fell in love with each other at first sight.
Juliet was 13 years old.
Romeo and Juliet were secretly married by Friar Lawrence.
Romeo poisoned himself.
Juliet killed herself with Romeo’s knife.
When the Montagues and the Capulets saw the dead bodies of their children, they promised to live in peace.

There was never a story sadder