As often happens, at the origin of a legend there is a historical fact, a kernel of truth.
The most famous love story in the world, that of Romeo and Juliet, probably takes its cue from the position of two castles facing each other 300 metres apart, on the hills overlooking the municipality of Montecchio Maggiore (Vi).
They are the castle of Bellaguardia, known as Juliet’s castle, and the castle of Villa, known as “Romeo’s castle”, two defensive structures dating back to the Middle Ages, destroyed several times over the centuries (in 1243 by Ezzelino da Romano, the lord of the Marca Trevigiana, allied to Emperor Frederick II of Swabia) and always rebuilt.
It seems that the historiographer Luigi da Porto, who wrote in the 16th century the novella of the “two noble lovers”, the scions of rival and enemy families, that was later made immortal by Shakespeare, was inspired by these two opposing fortifications, which seem to look at each other with haughtiness and a warlike air, like the two adversary families of the Montecchi and Capuleti.
Today the two very well restored buildings host exhibitions, shows and historical re-enactments.
There is also a rather elegant and refined restaurant in Juliet’s castle.
The view of the valley from the top of the two manors is enchanting, both with their fortified entrances guarded by two massive watchtowers, which seem to challenge each other from afar, unaware of the eternal love that has blossomed within their walls.
