The story goes that during the years of the Holy Roman Empire, a young soldier named Conrad of St Boniface fell in love with Isabella. Initially, Isabella refused Conrad's courtship, rejecting all his attempts at seduction. One day, the two met at a well in the centre of Verona. It was there, in a small courtyard near the church of San Marco, that Conrad accused Isabella of being as icy as the water in the well.  

Isabella, provoked by her beau's words, challenged him: 'Conrad, try to jump into the well and you may find yourself colder than ice'. It was mid-February and icy winds were blowing across the city, but Conrad did not hesitate and jumped into the cold waters of the well. At that moment, Isabella felt great pain: although she had rejected him, she was madly in love with him; torn by grief, she threw herself into the well too.