A woman who has been branded the ‘modern day Juliet’ after falling in love at first sight with a man she spotted from her balcony during lockdown has revealed they’ve finally enjoyed their first in-person date.
Paola Agnelli, 39, told This Morning how she first laid eyes on Michele D’Alpaos, 39, who lives across the road in Verona, Italy, when they both stepped out onto their balconies to listen to a community concert.
Among those performing was Paola’s violinist sister, Lisa Agnelli, whose rendition of Queen’s We Are The Champions caught Michele’s attention from across the street, and he found his eyes drawn to Paola, who was helping with the sound.
The couple – who went Facebook official last week – have now met each other for the first time, enjoying a date together thanks to Italy lifting some of its lockdown restrictions on Monday.
A woman who has been branded the ‘modern day Juliet’ after falling in love at first sight with a man she spotted from her balcony during lockdown has recalled their first date together (pictured)
Paola Agnelli, 39, told This Morning how she first laid eyes on Michele D’Alpaos, 39, who lives across the road in Verona, Italy, when they both stepped out onto their balconies (pictuered, a banner from Michele for Paola) to listen to a community balcony concert designed to keep spirits lifted
With her sister appearing alongside her via video link to translate her Italian to English, Paola said: ‘I’m very happy as now I can see him, hold him, kiss him, and I’m very happy as he’s very near me, and I can see him in every spare moment.’
Elsewhere, when asked by host Phillip Schofield if Paola was everything he hoped for, Michele, who appeared from his own home via video link, insisted ‘yes’.
The pair met on a park bench and spent some time together while following Italy’s COVID-19 lockdown rules.
Among those performing was Paola’s violinist sister, Lisa Agnelli, whose rendition of Queen’s We Are The Champions caught Michele’s attention from across the street and he found his eyes drawn to Paola, who was helping with the sound. Pictured: The couple of their first date
The couple – who appeared on This Morning today (pictured) – have now met each other for the first time, enjoying a date together thanks to Italy lifting some of its lockdown restrictions
Paola previously described how ‘the music was like an arrow fired by Eros’ when she saw Michele from the sixth floor of her apartment where she lives with her mother and sister.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Paola said: ‘The first time I saw him it was love first sight and for him as well – our eyes just met each other. The atmosphere was so romantic.’
And her real-life Romeo has revealed how a ‘love was born’ after he found out who Paola was from his sister Sylvia who knows her from the gym.
With her sister appearing alongside her via video link to translate her Italian to English (pictured), Paola said: ‘I’m very happy as now I can see him, hold him, kiss him, and I’m very happy as he’s very near me and I can see him in every spare moment.’
Elsewhere, when asked by host Phillip Schofield if Paola (pictured left) was everything he hoped for, Michele (pictured right), who appeared from his own home via video link, insisted ‘yes’.
Lisa Agnelli told BBC Radio Four: ‘Every day I play the violin on the balcony and on that day, March 17, my sister was helping me with the audio.
‘Michele saw my sister and fell in love while I was playing We Are The Champions.’
Paola, a lawyer, added: ‘I went out onto the balcony to see Lisa playing her violin and I saw him standing on the opposite balcony I realised he was my friend Sylvia’s brother and I said: “What a handsome man”‘.
Michele tracked down Paola’s Instagram account and the pair started messaging until 3am where he describes being like ‘teenagers in love’.
Michele tracked down Paola’s (pictured) Instagram account and the pair started messaging until 3am where he describes being like ‘teenagers in love’
Lisa Agnelli (pictured) told BBC Radio Four: ‘Every day I play the violin on the balcony and on that day, March 17, my sister was helping me with the audio’
Speaking about the evening she received a message, she said: ‘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.
In a bid to announce his love, Michele erected a huge banner on the top floor of the building with ‘Paola’ written on it and neighbours have been making detours to catch sight of the proclamation of love.
The couple, who are both unmarried, have lived opposite each other for most of their lives but have never met properly apart from a chance meeting a year ago.