The Romeo &Juliet museum at Juilet's house. Nice shot showing the balcony

Verona's authorities are slapping a ban on Romeos leaving written love notes near a balcony made famous by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

They say the scribbled messages are being fixed on by chewing gum - making a mess of the 13th century walls.

Lovers will be urged to post their notes by text or online - to be flashed on a screen being erected instead.

"It seemed the best solution to us," said a tourism official, adding it would appeal to young people.

Tourists in the northern Italian city of Verona make a point of visiting Juliet's house, in reality a former inn.

The tiny marble balcony and courtyard has become the place where, in William Shakespeare's 16th century play, Romeo declares his love for Juliet.

"This house is the stuff of legends. It has an effect on people - not just our younger visitors," said Francesca Tamellini, responsible for tourism at Verona city council.

But romantics compelled to leave their own prose at the site has caused unforeseen problems for the authorities.

Many of the notes have been stuck on with chewing gum, which is destroying the ancient building.

"It is time to clean the building, because people aren't just writing on the walls of the entrance arch, they are sticking notes on the wall with gum," Ms Tamellini said.

"It has become really ugly."

She said they want people to send text messages, which will flash up on a giant glass screen to be put up in the courtyard, possibly by next summer.

(Agencies)