Couple Dubbed 'Romeo And Juliet Of Coronavirus Lockdown' Are Getting Married

A couple who have been dubbed the 'Romeo and Juliet of the coronavirus pandemic', after meeting from their balconies, have announced that they will be getting married.

Michele D'Alpaos, 38, and Paola Agnelli, 40, fell in love in March during Italy's strict ten-week lockdown and were unable to meet each other.

Instagram/paola.agnelli80

Speaking to 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, who live in Verona, caught each other's attentions as they were out on their balconies at 6pm for the community concert, which was put in place to lift spirits.

Paola, a lawyer, was helping her violinist sister Lisa, who was performing a rendition of Queen's 'We Are The Champions' on the day she 'met' her boyfriend-turned-fiancé.

Michele, an IT worker, ended up managing to track down Paola's Instagram account after he found out who she was from his sister who knows Paola from the gym... and the rest is history.

Instagram/paola.agnelli80

After messaging into the early hours, Michele knew he had feelings for Paola and decided to erect a huge banner on the top floor of the building he lives in with her name written on it in a bid to express his emotions.

According to MailOnline, the couple have lived opposite each other for most of their lives but had never actually met properly.

Speaking to the publication, Paola said: "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."

Instagram/paola.agnelli80

When Paola received her first message from Michele, she told BBC Radio Four: "That night we wrote to each other until the early hours.

"We realised 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 vowed not to meet until they were allowed to, with Michele claiming he wanted to 'protect' Paola because he was in contact with people at work.

Eventually, they were able to meet up for a real life date in a local park as restrictions started easing in May.

Congratulations, guys.

Topics: Dating, Relationships, Community, Italy

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

@RJShepherd94