From hotels to flats, the balcony is a staple in modern architecture. After all, they are elegant, sophisticated and incredibly hard to miss. Here at Cheshire Metalcraft, our focus may be on gates, but we also have a wide range of exquisite wrought iron balconies to choose from too! Read on as we go through five weird and wonderful balcony facts…
1. There is no ‘balcony’ scene in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Despite traditional staging of the play depicting Romeo courting Juliet from her balcony, there is actually no mention if the word ‘balcony’ in Shakespeare’s famous play. In fact, he writes that ‘Juliet appears above at a window’ rather than placing her on a balcony. Many say this is an example of the Mandela effect; an observed phenomenon which occurs when a large percentage of the population remembers a significant event that didn’t actually happen.
2. The balcony of Buckingham Palace is a famous tourist attraction.
Buckingham Palace itself and the royal family are a British tourist attraction in their own right, however, statistics show that more visitors are drawn to the capital every time there is expected to be a balcony appearance. In fact, ever since Queen Victoria started the royal tradition in 1851 during the celebrations for the opening of the Great Exhibitions, balcony appearances have become a big deal as well as a must-see tourist attraction.
3. Balconies date back two thousand years to Ancient Greece.
The word ‘balcony’ is derived from the Italian world ‘balcone’ which means scaffold. Today, we know balconies as a safety measure that is placed around a platform that may or may not project out from the side of a building, however it is interesting to discover that they can be dated back to Ancient Greece. In fact, it is thought that they were used to address functional needs, such as improving air circulation, rather than aesthetic needs.
4. The highest seats in a theatre auditorium are known as the ‘balcony’.
If you are an avid theatregoer, you will know that the seats furthest back from the stage are found in the ‘balcony’. Also known as ‘the gods’, it is thought that this part of the theatre is referred to as the balconies because they are incredibly high, just like the platform of a balcony tends to be.
5. You can visit ‘the Balcony of Juliet’ at Villa Capuleti in Verona.
Whilst the balcony scene in Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet, is simply a myth, you can actually visit the house that the playwright set the tragedy in, complete with a balcony carved from a 17th century sarcophagus. As one may expect, the balcony where Juliet ‘stood’ is not a part of the original building design and was added afterwards. Interestingly, the Verona balcony has become an avid tourist attraction.
Form Juliet balconies to French balconies, it is safe to say that there is a wide selection of designs to choose from in order to suit the preference of every buyer. Here at Cheshire Metalcraft, we believe that a balcony is the perfect way to add a new aspect of refinement to the exterior of your property. After all, we may be known for the finest gates in Manchester but we want to shed some light on our balconies too! Get in contact with a member of the team to find out more information today!