Valentine’s Day – a reminder of love

The love of Romeo and Juliet inspired us to write a short statistical love story!

How many times have you heard Shakespeare’s famous lines "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" One of the most famous love stories, the one about Romeo and Juliet, was written 426 years ago. Since then, it has had numerous adaptations, and even today it is a synonym for youthful romance.

This drama, created by the pen of one of the greatest English writers, inspired many, including some parents, to choose a child's name. According to the 2021 Census, there are 574 persons named Romeo and 1 401 persons named Julija living in Croatia.

Elements of this love story have also found their place in pop culture. Visiting Julia's house or leaving her a letter has become part of the travel itinerary of many tourists. It is precisely because of the plot set in Italy that many want to fantasize about romantic love at the foot of Julia's balcony, at least for a moment. In 2021, Croatian citizens realised 28 thousand private trips with overnight stays in Italy, with an average of seven overnight stays. Our neighbouring country is also a frequent choice for same-day visits, as 1 476 domestic visitors travelled to Italy in 2021, which makes up a fifth of domestic visitors on same-day visits to foreign countries organised by Croatian travel agencies.

You can find your own copy of this indispensable love story in one of the 1 760 libraries in Croatia, which were home to more than 28.2 million books in 2021, and perhaps a visit to the library will inspire you to read some more love stories. Croatian citizens also like to watch good stories on theatre stages or in cinemas. This is supported by the data on 1.1 million theatre visitors and 2.5 million cinemagoers in 2021.

We wish you a story with a happy plot and that you remember every day how important love is, in all its forms. Happy Valentine's Day!

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