Answer:
Tales adapted from Italian stories were popular at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
This is most likely why Shakespeare decided to write a play based on the story of Romeo and Juliet. At that time, Italian stories were extremely popular. This was due to the literary and cultural influence that Italy had in Europe. Therefore, while Romeo and Juliet was a story present in various earlier traditions (such as Pyramus and Thisbe), Shakespeare decided to set this story in Italy, borrowing heavily from Boccaccio's Decameron.