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Juliet's Breast Statue Wears Down from Tourist Touch
8 Sep
Summary
- Bronze Juliet statue worn down by tourists touching its breast for luck.
- Original statue, installed in 1972, replaced in 2014 due to deterioration.
- Damaged original statue is now displayed indoors, protected from touch.
For more than 40 years, millions of tourists visited Casa di Giulietta in Verona, touching the bronze statue of Juliet's right breast. This gesture was believed to bring good fortune in love. The statue, installed in 1972 and sculpted in 1969, began showing significant wear by 2013. City authorities determined the statue was too deteriorated for public handling and opted to create a replica.
The replacement sculpture was installed in the courtyard in June 2014, costing approximately €15,000. It was cast from a silicone mold of the original. The damaged original statue was moved indoors to the Casa di Giulietta complex, where it remains on display behind glass. The tradition of touching the statue's breast for luck has no documented origin but appears to have developed organically among visitors after 1972.
Verona officials have accepted periodic replacement as the cost of preserving a custom integral to the site's identity. No design changes were made to protect the new sculpture from similar wear, as public contact is central to its appeal.
