Every year, thousands of envelopes arrive in Verona bearing an unlikely address: "Juliet, Verona, Italy". No street number, no precise postcode. And yet they arrive — from India, from Japan, from Ukraine, from Mongolia. And someone reads them. Someone writes back, by hand, on certified recycled paper, signing off "With love, Juliet." What most people don't know is that this happens every single day — even on Ferragosto, even when the courtyard of the Casa di Giulietta is empty and the selfies have gone quiet.
Who answers the love letters in Verona: Juliet's secretaries
The short answer: a group of volunteers — around fifty, of various nationalities — gathered under the name of the Club di Giulietta. They read every letter, sort it by language, translate it when necessary, and write a personalised reply. The average waiting time to receive a response is two to three months: the letters are many, and each reply deserves care.
The Club is not an anonymous municipal body. It is an association founded in 1972 by Giulio Tamassia and a group of Veronese intellectuals, which today manages the Posta di Giulietta on behalf of the city council. The secretaries come from all over the world: some collaborate for years, others for just a month's holiday in Verona — and then carry on replying by email from home, as if Juliet had branches everywhere.
Letters arrive in English, Italian, German, French, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic. Even in Braille. When a language is unknown to the volunteers on duty, a contact is sought within the Club's international network. Only in extreme cases — such as a letter received from Mongolia — is a reply sent in English, with a note explaining the situation. The principle has been the same from the beginning: no letter should go unanswered.
How the tradition began: from Ettore Solimani to today
The story starts in the 1930s. Ettore Solimani was the custodian of the Tomba di Giulietta and began finding letters left by visitors at the tomb. Moved by them, he started to reply. He signed himself "Secretary of Juliet" — the first in a long line. From that quiet, almost involuntary gesture, one of Italy's most singular traditions was born.
Today the letters that arrive physically at the Club number several thousand a year, alongside emails and messages left in the red letterbox at the Casa di Giulietta. The most recurring themes? The end of a love story, the fear of not being loved enough, the hope of finding someone. But letters of thanks also arrive — people writing to say that, after sending their letter years earlier, they really did find love.
The secretaries are neither psychologists nor relationship counsellors. They are people who draw on their own human experience to respond with empathy. When a letter is a difficult one, it is discussed as a group. The result is a reply that — as one of the long-standing secretaries has put it — offers no advice: it bears witness. It shows that someone has read, understood, and that you are not alone.
How to become a Juliet secretary for a day (even in summer)
This is the part that tourists often don't know: anyone can take part. The Club di Giulietta welcomes volunteers for a day, a week, or even just an afternoon. No particular qualifications are needed — only the willingness to read carefully and write with care.
The process is straightforward:
- Fill in the application form on the website julietclub.com (in the section dedicated to volunteers).
- Choose the language you wish to reply in — the Club is always looking for speakers of less common languages.
- You are assigned a session of around 60–90 minutes at the Club's premises.
- Read the letters, write the replies by hand, sign "With love, Juliet."
- A supervising secretary reviews every reply before it is sent.
It is also possible to book a visit to the archive, where tens of thousands of letters received over the years are preserved — a unique collection of stories of love, pain, and hope. Among the curiosities held in the archive: a wedding ring sent by a Sicilian widow so that a secretary might wear it as a token of eternal love; a diary posted by a Japanese woman after her wedding — too precious to throw away, too private to keep at home.
Where to find the Club di Giulietta and practical information
The Club di Giulietta is not at the Casa di Giulietta. It is in a parallel alleyway, a few minutes' walk away, tucked out of sight — as is only right for a place that keeps love's secrets.
- Address: Vicolo Santa Cecilia 9, 37121 Verona — a side street off Corso Sant'Anastasia, the road connecting Piazza delle Erbe to the church of Sant'Anastasia.
- Contact: info@julietclub.com / Tel. +39 045 533115
- Official website: julietclub.com
- How to write to Juliet: simply address the envelope to "Juliet Club, Vicolo Santa Cecilia 9, 37121 Verona", or leave your letter in the red letterbox at Via Cappello 23. Alternatively, you can also email dearjuliet@julietclub.com — though writing by hand is a different thing altogether.
- Casa di Giulietta (nearby): open Monday 14:00–19:00, Tuesday–Sunday 9:00–19:00. Entry by reservation via verona.midaticket.it, also for VeronaCard holders.
In summer the city pulses with tourists and the opera season at the Arena is in full swing. But the Club works all year round, quietly, just a few steps from the bustle of Piazza delle Erbe. September is a particularly meaningful month: every year Verona celebrates Juliet's birthday, and the Club takes centre stage in the festivities.
How long does the visit take?
A session as a secretary lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. The archive visit is included within the same appointment. Allow around half an hour more if you want to take your time reading some of the letters on display.
Is there a fee to become a Juliet secretary?
Participation as a volunteer is generally free or involves a symbolic contribution. Some sessions can also be booked through tourist experience platforms at around 25–30 euros per person [⚠ PLEASE VERIFY the current price on the official website]. Advance booking is recommended, especially in summer.
Do I need to speak Italian to take part?
No. The Club welcomes volunteers from all over the world precisely because the letters arrive in dozens of languages. What matters is the language you write well — that is your most valuable asset.
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