Dear Juliet

Dear Juliet.

Every year, thousands of letters begin with those two simple words. They arrive in Verona from every corner of the world, carrying questions about love, loss, hope, and second chances. Remarkably, each one is answered.

For more than seven centuries, Verona, Italy, has been inseparable from the legend of Romeo and Juliet. Although Juliet is a fictional character, she has come to symbolize hope, longing, and enduring love for millions of people around the world. That enduring connection has inspired one of the most remarkable traditions in modern letter writing.

In the 1930s, Ettore Solimani, the caretaker of Juliet’s tomb, began collecting the heartfelt notes visitors left behind. Rather than allowing them to disappear, he answered many himself. What began as one man’s compassionate gesture eventually grew into something extraordinary.

In 1972, the Club di Giulietta (The Juliet Club) was established as a nonprofit cultural organization. Since then, volunteers affectionately known as Juliet’s Secretaries have answered tens of thousands of letters. Some are handwritten and found tucked into the walls near Casa di Giulietta; others arrive by post or email. They speak of heartbreak, hope, uncertainty, gratitude, and the quiet questions people sometimes find easiest to ask a stranger.

Juliet’s Secretaries

Each letter is read with care. It is often said that Juliet’s secretaries write with their hearts and reply with kindness. They take great pride in their work and in the compassion they extend to every writer. Many speak multiple languages, allowing them to respond personally to letters from around the world.

When a letter poses especially difficult questions, Juliet’s secretaries often gather to share their perspectives before composing a reply. Every response is offered with empathy rather than expertise, guided by compassion rather than convention. Though they are volunteers, they approach every letter with genuine care, knowing that behind each letter is a heart searching for hope.

When so much of our communication is brief and easily forgotten, it is quietly reassuring to know that somewhere in Verona, someone still takes the time to answer a stranger’s handwritten letter, and in doing so, offers compassion, understanding and hope.

Perhaps that is what makes this true story so captivating. It reminds us that while the legend of Juliet has endured for centuries, kindness is what keeps it alive. These letters are not really about finding perfect romance. They are about being heard. They remind us that our deepest questions deserve a thoughtful response.

There is something quietly beautiful about that.

The Juliet Club reminds us that a handwritten letter still has the power to comfort, encourage, and restore hope, one letter at a time.

Closing Reflection

Perhaps the greatest love story isn’t found in Shakespeare’s pages at all. Perhaps it’s found every time someone begins a letter with the words, “Dear Juliet,” and discovers that the greatest gift isn’t finding the perfect answer but receiving the gift of kindness from someone who cared enough to write back. After all, handwritten correspondence is an act of care.

What might change in our own lives if we did the same?