April 23rd is Shakespeare Day, the anniversary of the day on which one of the greatest playwrights passed away. William Shakespeare died on April 23rd 1616 which means this year marks 402 years since his death. In honour of the great playwright and poet, we have created a guide showcasing Shakespeare locations around the world which you can visit to celebrate the life and work of the iconic writer. Our Shakespeare’s World map includes both the settings of where his famous plays took place, as well as iconic places around the world which were important to Shakespeare – including his childhood home in Stratford-upon-Avon and the iconic Globe Theatre in London.

Have a look at our map below for inspiration on where to visit for a Shakespeare inspired break.

Shakespeare Locations in Italy

Of course Shakespeare set many of his legendary plays in the beautiful and romantic country of Italy.

Shakespeare plays set in Italy include Othello which is set in Venice, Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra – both of which are set in Rome, and The Two Gentleman of Verona which takes place across Verona and Milan. Of course, one of the most famous Shakespeare plays of all, Romeo and Juliet was also set in Verona, and the city still honours the play in many ways, with tourists flocking to the city to indulge in the Romeo and Juliet fandom.

Romeo & Juliet in Verona

The classic romantic tragedy Romeo & Juliet is set in Verona and tells the story of two star-crossed lovers from rival families.

In Verona, which is located in the Veneto region of Italy, you can celebrate the play in many ways. One of the most popular visitor attractions in Verona is Casa di Giulietta, the home of Juliet featuring the famous balcony from the play. The house has no accurate historic link to the Bard’s love story, however it is the similarity between the home’s historic owners – the dell Capello family – with Shakespeare’s Capulets which first spurned the connection.

At Juliet’s house there is a tradition for visitors to leave their letters to Juliet, telling their tales of heartbreak and unrequited love. These letters are all responded to by hand from The Juliet Club. The tradition of writing letters to Juliet is believed to date back centuries. The Juliet Club was set up in the 1990s to respond to the letters, and the office receives over 6000 letters annually.

Another tradition in Verona is to visit the bronze statue of Juliet situated outside of Casa di Giulietta – legend has it that rubbing Juliet’s chest will bring you good luck.

Verona is also home to the Arena di Verona, an ancient amphitheatre dating back to the first century, which is still in use today. If you’re lucky you may even catch a performance of the world-famous play at the Arena di Verona for a truly magical Shakespeare experience in Italy.

Verona is also situated just half an hour from the stunning Lake Garda, where you can head to for a relaxing time after soaking in the Shakespeare attractions in Verona.

If you want to explore more of Shakespeare’s world in Italy, have a look at our fantastic rental properties in Italy.