Love in the time of coronavirus took on a Shakespearean twist earlier this year.
In a story that mirrors the famous tale of Romeo and Juliet, a couple met on neighboring balconies during the coronavirus lockdown in Verona, Italy and soon after, they fell in love.
Despite living next to each other for years, Michele D’Alpaos, 38, and Paola Agnelli, 39, had never met prior to the start of the pandemic— and now, a few months later, the star-crossed lovers are engaged to be married.
As their cross-balcony flirtation blossomed into a full-on relationship, it also caught the attention of media outlets around the world, and ever since, the couple has been featured on every major news outlet and publication across the globe.
The attraction was instant and mutual, despite the 40-meter distance between their two balconies.
“I was immediately struck by the beauty of this girl, by her smile,” D’Alpaos told The New York Post, “I had to know her.”
In the meantime, the couple is trying to find the right time to tie the knot.
"Marriage is an important thing and you must never rush it," said Agnelli.
In true Shakespearean style, their romantic story has touched the hearts of millions of people but unlike the stories written by Shakespeare, his love story does not have a tragic ending!
For more on this story, we recommend checking out Paola's Instagram account and listening to the segment below from The Beat 5@7 with Cat and Claudia. Enjoy!
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