When you think of Verona, you always think of the story of Romeo and Juliet. And the first image that comes to mind is that of the most famous balcony in the world.
In fact, perhaps not everyone knows that there is another tragic love that has been consumed in the city, and linked not to a balcony, but to a well.
Legend has it that a young soldier, Corrado of St. Bonifazio, and a certain Isabella of the house of the Donati, is the love story. The young man tried in every way to make her fall in love, but the girl seemed not to reciprocate.
On a cold winter’s day, the two met in the courtyard near St. Mark’s Church in Carceres. Corrado, now tired of being rejected, told the young woman that it was as cold as the water from the well that was in that yard. Isabella, defiantly, told the young man to jump into the well to see if that water was as icy as he believed. Conrad, gripped by despair, obeyed and threw himself into the well.
Isabella, who was actually in love with Corrado, at the sight of what her words had provoked, threw herself into the well to follow her lover.
From that day on, the well was called the Well of Love.
The Well of Love is located in St. Mark’s Alley in Forum, a romantic corner in the heart of the city a short walk from The Herb Square.
Above the grate that covers it, a brass plaque invites you to toss a lucky coin:
Throws in the well a little money
Think of your destiny for a moment
Don’t get distracted don’t make noise
Here… Here… Love comes
The coins are collected to finance the initiatives of the Juliet Club, the association that responds to the thousands of letters that are sent to Juliet every year by lovers all over the world.
