William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest and most prominent writer of the English language, most famous for his poetry and his plays. A third of these plays were set in Italy because at the time, Italy was known to have the most devious and sophisticated of people. These characteristics helped run the plot of many of Shakespeare’s plays.

Aside from Juliet’s House in Verona, which was established in dedication to one of his more well-known plays, Romeo and Juliet, there are several other establishments today that reflect the influences of Shakespeare’s writing.

Juliet’s tomb has also been recreated in Verona. In the play, she had died in a thirteenth century Franciscan convent. There is a real life Franciscan convent which was the only one outside the walls of the city of Verona during the time the play was written.

Her tomb rests in this very convent where tourists go to pay tribute to both Juliet and her creator, Shakespeare. Many claim that the atmosphere of this convent radiates genuine sadness, and is an interesting place to visit for Shakespeare enthusiasts.

In the time of Shakespeare, the ‘Venetian Ghetto’ was a location where Jews could live and trade. In fact, it was the only place Jews could live and trade. This is why Shakespeare based his Jewish character, Shylock, in this location in his play, The Merchant of Venice. Even now, there are five synagogues where a Jewish community still remains to this day.

Another one of Shakespeare’s plays, The Taming of the Shrew, was set in Padua, a city that lies between Venice and Verona. In his time, the University of Padua was a reputable learning center, which Shakespeare used to accentuate the setting in his play and make the events more realistic. Today, it is still a leading medical university.

The Basilica of San Zeno, as speculated by many, is said to house the crypt where Romeo and Juliet were married. Today, it is a fine example of Romanesque architecture and is visited by hundreds of tourists both for appreciation of Shakespeare and classic architecture.

If you have always been enthralled by Shakespeare’s many great works of literature, you may want to go to Italy, which served as a great source of inspiration for him and continues to honor his works today. Book a custom Italian vacation or pay these establishments a visit to witness these influences firsthand.