Letters from across the world, originating from countries such as India, Brazil, United States, Ireland, Australia and many others, find their way to a small office in Verona, Italy. These letters are addressed to Juliet, the fictional heroine of Shakespeare’s play from the 16th century. The assortment of mail is managed by a group of volunteers from the UK, Philippines, Poland and Italy.
Giovanna Tamassia, the leading volunteer, who carries a wallet bearing the phrase “love is blind”, guides her team to answer the letters freely, almost as if they were an intimate friend. However, they are reminded that their responses should echo the spirit of Juliet – young, fearless and fiery in love. Each year, Tamassia shares, thousands of letters pour into the office. From those seeking guidance to those narrating their tales or seeking blessings, the inquiries are varied.
Some of these letters are hand-delivered by tourists visiting Juliet’s balcony in Via Capello, which is now a popular tourist spot. Here, tourists are known to touch one of the breasts on a statue of Juliet, believed to bring them luck. Once received, the letters are taken to the Juliet Club office, a cosy space without a toilet, and sorted based on the language they are written in.
Unfortunately, not all letters receive a response, as Tamassia laments. Given more resources from the city, she hopes they could be more efficient in the future. The tradition of responding to the letters dates back to the 1930s, with Ettore Solimani, dubbed “the guardian of Juliet’s tomb”, attributed as the first ‘Juliet’s secretary’. The Juliet Club finds its roots in a cultural organisation established in 1972 by Giulio Tamassia, Giovanna’s father, who painted the town of Verona with various cultural activities like events, concerts and exhibitions. After recognising his passion, the Verona mayor requested Giulio to answer the numerous unattended letters addressed to Juliet. “-My father accepted the task out of his deep affection for Juliet’s character and Shakespeare’s narrative,” Giovanna added.
While originally a pastime she shared with what she called her “Juliet secretaries”, Tamassia later took control of the Juliet Club, an endeavour she began close to 20 years ago after benefiting her language studies at the University of Verona with her proficiency in English and German translation. Even as she moves into her 50s, she remains the linchpin of the club; greeting volunteers, liaising with local governing bodies for post expenses, and overseeing the distribution of mail. Juliet Club plays host to a competition called Premio Cara Giulietta, rewarding the most touching letters. In 2013, this honour went to an Irish scholar, Jessica Lynch.
With the club situated near Juliet’s balcony, a number of letters are left there, but others are mailed directly to the club. The club even receives posts addressed simply as “Juliet, Verona”. A noticeable influx of letters was observed following the launch of the 2010 film “Letters to Juliet” featuring American actress Amanda Seyfried.
An increasing number of global volunteers avail of the club’s “secretary for a day” facility through Airbnb, usually for a €25 fee. Tamassia appreciates this contribution and sees it as crucial to preserve their tradition and keep the club operational. But she stresses that there are also individuals who join without the fee, including those who reside temporarily in Verona or those who struggle with the fee.
Tamassia enjoys leading the club but she indicates the necessity of more local youths’ participation. She expresses concern over her age and the future sustainability of the club that operates not as a paid job, but a hobby.
Volunteers independently select which love letters to open and respond to on official stationery. Of all the volunteers on a given day, Monika Morgan was the only man, there because of his partner. Morgan, a 33-year-old Polish communications expert and author living in the UK, reverted to nine letters during her two-hour stint.
She remarked fondly on reading and responding to others’ romantic narratives, saying, “I find immense joy in reading and writing…The notion of delving into others’ love stories felt absolutely charming to me. I’m inherently curious. Therefore, I found the prospect of reading what people wanted to express to Juliet very intriguing.”
In an unexpected revelation, she was taken aback by the volume of intimate narratives divulged by people. She recounts, “Individuals shared numerous heart-rending personal accounts… diverse experiences I could resonate with, thereby furnishing my responses.”
The pile contained a missive from a mourning widow, who enclosed snaps of her departed spouse. One Irish lady expressed lamentation over wedding the wrong person. “How do I recognize ‘my person’?” questioned a Romanian. A Brazilian lady narrated her unsuccessful attempts at forgetting someone over the span of five years. A boy from America professed his affection for a girl stating “my misguided, deceitful, corrupt heart is all for her.”
A lady from Australia stated, “I can’t help but yearn for more – more thrills, more passion, more romance. I am committed to my partner, but aspire for more. But fear holds me back, fear that seeking for more might lead to me losing everything.”
An Austrian couple penned, “Respond to our note and bestow your counsel on a love that overpowers all, transcends life and death.”
“Tales of love from across the globe find their way to Juliet,” exudes Tamassia proudly. Letters arrive in a myriad of languages, predominantly in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, extending to Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Russian.
Tamassia remarked that a subset of narratives is indeed intricate: long-distant relationships, deceits, breakups, and even people longing to unite but entangled in predicaments.
“Correspondences pour in from teenagers, adults, and the elderly. Their dilemmas might differ, but they echo similar sentiments worldwide,” remarked Tamassia. Teenagers, new to the territory of relationships, are often shy, anxious about rejection, or unsure about what love entails. They have abundant queries, their problems might seem superficial, but are far from easy. Tamassia suggests they handle each situation with due care, instilling a ray of hope for their future.
The letters from adults frequently involve those who either haven’t stumbled upon love or have lost it and dwell in fear of never experiencing it again, Tamassia notes.
Tamassia reflects on the types of narratives they often encounter, denoting complexity in some while others discuss pure joy. The prevailing trend seems to be that elated individuals seldom share their stories, but there are exceptions, with some desiring to recount their tales of relationship bliss. Fascinatingly, despite the myriad of modern communication methods available, people opt to send letters, possibly highlighting a need to narrate their personal experiences.
Over time, the issues outlined in these letters have remained consistent, even though the manner people meet has transcended traditional boundaries thanks to the internet and various apps. Tamassia notes an apparent reduction in the number of letters sharing tales of conflicts due to religious beliefs or societal divergences, suggesting it could be indicative of positive developments.
Looking back to the 1990s, their archives demonstrate a global audience, receiving letters from as varied locations as Shanghai and Istanbul. Different types of queries were presented too, ranging from pondering if Romeo and Juliet upheld safe sex practices, to pieces of advice to Juliet to disregard Friar Lawrence’s suggestion to feign death. An instance was recorded in 1992 where a Turkish lady sought guidance on sustaining a relationship with her foreign Christian boyfriend in light of differences within their families.
Tamassia states that through reading these narratives, they gain profound insights. They strive to aid those who write to them, providing advice and in return, gain much from the experience as well. They conclude that despite the inevitable pain and potential heartaches, love, being a crucial aspect of human life, is always a worthwhile pursuit.