This is the second time over-tourism has disfigured Juliet (Photo: iStock)
Due to overtourism and excessive touching by tourists, the statue of Juliet, William Shakespeare’s heroine, situated in Verona in Italy has been damaged. And this is not the first time that the statue has suffered damages.
According to press reports, tourists have once again created a hole in the right breast of the iconic Juliet statue. Hundreds of people visit the bronze statue every day, posing for selfies and touching the breast as part of a ritual thought to bring luck in love. But the sweat from their hands is believed to have caused a small hole to develop.
The reports add that while currently only a few millimetres in size, the damage is likely to spread, indicating the statue’s expected service life of just under 50 years may be shorter, says the statement.
The monument is located beneath the balcony in the small courtyard where Romeo is said to have courted Juliet. The balcony, reminiscent of the famous scene in the play, was probably added later. However, it has become a popular pilgrimage site for almost 1.5 million international tourists annually, according to reports.
The Casa di Giulietta in Verona, Italy, is a 14th-century house transformed into a tourist attraction due to its association with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
According to the reports, this is the second time over-tourism has disfigured Juliet. In 2014, the original statue, which had stood in the courtyard for more than 40 years, was replaced with a copy costing EUR 15,000.
The reports say that Italy’s tourism industry significantly contributes to the country’s economy, providing employment opportunities for many. However, many international tourists have also led to environmental degradation and the loss of natural and cultural heritage. As a result, several regions are considering shifting away from mass tourism and exploring alternative sustainable tourism models to preserve their resources and identity.
