It is the city where the exiled Romeo dreamed he died and Juliet's kisses breathed life back into his body.
Tragically, the lifeless bodies of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers would soon lie side by side.
Yesterday at Mantua, in an amazing echo of that heartrending story, archaeologists revealed the discovery of a couple locked in a tender embrace, one that has endured for more than 5,000 years.
The find was unearthed by experts digging at a neolithic site at a less than romantic industrial estate. Scientists are to examine the skeletons to try to establish how old they were when they died and how long they have been buried.
One theory being examined is that the man was killed and the woman then sacrificed so that his soul would be accompanied in the after life.
Elena Menotti, who is leading the dig at Valdaro near Mantua in northern Italy, said: 'I am so excited about this discovery.
"We have never found a man and a woman embraced before and this is a unique find.
Daily Mail:
Tragically, the lifeless bodies of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers would soon lie side by side.
Yesterday at Mantua, in an amazing echo of that heartrending story, archaeologists revealed the discovery of a couple locked in a tender embrace, one that has endured for more than 5,000 years.
The find was unearthed by experts digging at a neolithic site at a less than romantic industrial estate. Scientists are to examine the skeletons to try to establish how old they were when they died and how long they have been buried.
One theory being examined is that the man was killed and the woman then sacrificed so that his soul would be accompanied in the after life.
Elena Menotti, who is leading the dig at Valdaro near Mantua in northern Italy, said: 'I am so excited about this discovery.
"We have never found a man and a woman embraced before and this is a unique find.
Daily Mail:
.......... I still will stay with thee;
William Shakespeare
