One Couple Will Spend Valentine's Day in 'Juliet's House'
Airbnb is having a competition for couples to win a night in "Juliet's House" on Valentine's Day in Verona, Italy.
The couple that wins will get a meal from a two Michelin star chef and a tour of the city with a photographer. They can also sleep in the bed used in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 movie, Romeo and Juliet.
To win, couples must write a letter, in English, explaining their love story and why they would be the perfect guests for the house. The letter must be received by February 2.
According to Tourism Verona, "Juliet's House" is visited by over a million people each year. While Juliet was not a real person, the house has a balcony like the one where Romeo and Juliet are often shown saying they love each other.
There's a statue of Juliet outside the house that is said to bring luck in love when touched. And the walls outside the house are covered in love letters left by tourists.
Every year, thousands of letters are also sent to "Juliet, Verona," which are answered by local volunteers from the "Juliet Club." The winners of the Airbnb competition will get a chance to read and respond to some of the letters.
William Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616, and Romeo and Juliet was probably written around 1595. Despite it being the setting for Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare never visited the city of Verona.
