An Italian couple who have a real-life Romeo and Juliet love story are now getting married after they met while singing on their balconies during the pandemic.
Michele D'Alpaos, 38, and Paola Agnelli, 40, fell in love six months ago during Italy's strict two-week coronavirus lockdown, which prevented them from meeting each other.
In an interview with The Times, Michele said: "We are absolutely getting married and all we have to do is set the date. We are considering a ceremony on the large roof terrace of my building, which would make sense since we met on our balconies."
The pair met during a community concert which was held by the government in Verona to lift people's spirits.
While on their balconies at 6 pm Paola, a lawyer, was helping her violinist sister Lisa perform a cover of Queen's 'We Are The Champions' and that's when she saw her now husband-to-be.
Michele, an IT worker, managed to put her detective skills to good use and found Paola's Instagram page after his sister said that she knew her from the gym, and the pair have been inseparable ever since.
Once the pair began messaging into the early hours of the morning, Michele realized that he had feelings for Paola and decided to erect a banner on his balcony to let her know exactly how he felt.
As per the MailOnline, the couple actually lived next to each other for the majority of their lives, but it wasn't until the pandemic that they finally caught each other's eye.
Paola told the publication: "The first time I saw Michele it was love at first sight, and for him as well - our eyes just met each other. The atmosphere was so romantic."
After Paola received his first text from Michele, per the Metro, she told BBC Radio Four: "That night we wrote to each other until the early hours. We realized we shared the same values and that those would be a solid base for a relationship. We are both determined people but also kind and sensitive."
The couple met in May when lockdown restrictions were eased in Italy, and now they've made the ultimate commitment.
Congratulations!
