Saint Valentine’s Day is dedicated to lovers: lovers of the world celebrate this day with gifts, short holidays, romantic dinners, etc. Only in Middle-Eastern countries, people cannot celebrate this day because it is considered an offence against Islamic religion and an acceptance of Western model. Also animals celebrate this day: birds for example start their mating.

This feast is a perfect occasion to have a break with the person you love: a short holiday in a beautiful and relaxing place with a magic atmosphere. Ancient houses, agritourisms, castles, or elegant hotels: you can have several possibilities to enjoy this feast, with a romantic weekend or dinner. In Italy you can choose among thousand beautiful towns, rich of art, history, culture, and romanticism. Also the smallest and most picturesque towns are the perfect setting for a magic holiday from Northern Italy to Southern Italy.

The event “Verona in love” is an important event of the town of the most famous lovers of the world: Romeo and Juliet. In the heart of Verona there are concerts, music, stands that sell everything about love, film, etc. There is also a competition to choose the best love poem. There are also classic concerts and ballets.

Saint Valentine is the patron of Terni and the town celebrates him every year: there is a rite, called "Festa della Promessa” (that is the feast of promise). People who are going to get married arrive from all over the world and make their promises in the church dedicated to Saint Valentine. There are also many celebrations dedicated to those people who celebrate their 25^th or 50^th wedding anniversary. Terni is especially romantic in this period and offers a lot of opportunities to spend nice days, thanks to theatre shows, cinemas, cultural events, sport events, etc. Love here is considered a universal value. In fact in Terni there is an important award “Premio San Valentino d’oro”, given to people that distinguished themselves in the cultural and scientific fields, in sport, for their work in humanitarian organisations. There is also a prize for the most beautiful jewel created for Saint Valentine. In the middle of the choir of the basilica there is a pit dedicated to Saint Valentine and people throw in it love letters and messages.

“Le frecce di Cupido” is an event organized in farms and castles of Parma and Piacenza. The castles of Parma and Piacenza give unforgettable experiences to lovers dedicated to them an enchanted world made of love potions and ghosts, knights and ladies, passions that last for ever, and much more. The ancient dukedoms of the territory (Castello di Compiano, Gropparello, Rocca Sanvitale di Fontanellato) with their fortresses and their castles offer to visitors a magic atmosphere to live a romantic Saint Valentine Day. You can spend some days in one of these wonderful and elegant houses, visit the castles, and the Middle Ages towns. In the castles of Torrechiara and Roccabianca you will live one of the most touching love stories: the story between a nobleman, Pier Maria Rossi, and his lover, lady Bianca Pellegrini. They lived in XV century. Here love, culture, art, and gastronomy perfectly match. The castle of Torrechiara is partially closed after the earthquake of December 2008; this is why some interesting paintings are in the castle of Roccabianca. They portray some episodes of this love story.

Gradara (Pesaro – Urbino) is among the towns and the villages included in the most beautiful of Italy, “Borghi più belli d’Italia”. Gradara has a strategic position and this is why commerce has always been very developed and prosperous. Gradara is also the setting of the love story lived by Paolo and Francesca. On 14^th and 15^th February, the town celebrates Saint Valentine dedicating an important event to poetry and love: “Gradara d’Amare”. The programme is very rich and includes guided tours to the castle of Malatesta family; readings of Divina Commedia by Dante; love poems; theatre shows; gastronomy, etc. Inside the walls of the castle there is a fair dedicated to love: “Fiore, cuore, amore: San Valentino a Gradara”. Visitors will find many hand-made objects, such as ceramics, soaps, herbs, flowers, Etc. Local painters also will exhibit their works of art. Gastronomy is also here with cheese, honey, hand-made products, and much more. The fortress of Gradara with its fortified village is one of the Middle Ages buildings best kept in Italy, together with the strong walls that surround and protect them. The castle of Gradara is on a hill at 142 above the sea level and the main tower dominates the valley. The castle was built at the beginning of XIII century. Portico and loggia are interesting, as well as the chapel with a beautiful terracotta by Andrea della Robbia. On the upper floor you will find interesting furniture of 1400/1500. The garden, surrounded by walls, is beautiful. The entrance of the castle is linked to the village thanks to a road, called Via Umberto I. You will also find a romantic path called Sentiero degli innamorati, that is the path of lovers and go around the hill, through the park. The most interesting room is the one that belonged to Francesca da Polenta (best known as “da Rimini”). In this room the love story between Francesca and her brother in law, Paolo, developed up to the tragic end. And Italian poet Dante told this tragic story in a touching way in his Divina Commedia.

Amalfi Coast is the perfect setting for lovers thanks to the wonderful coasts, the blue sea, the nature rich of smells and colours, the mild climate, the small and picturesque towns with their charming churches. If you decide to spend Saint Valentine’s day on Amalfi Coast, you will enjoy wonderful panoramas that will be the perfect setting fro your romantic dinner. Gastronomy in Campania is delicious. You can choose to stay in Ravello (with the most beautiful panorama of the world from Villa Cimbrone). Or you can decide to spend some days in the other towns, for example Amalfi with its beautiful cathedral; or Praiano and Positano with the picturesque small streets. You will surely live unforgettable moments with your partner.

Also Cilento is a perfect setting to celebrate Saint Valentine’s day. Nature is beautiful and uncontaminated and offers the perfect setting for a relaxing and unforgettable stay. The national park of Cilento has many facilities that allow visitors to choose the best accommodation. Management is friendly but professional. There are many picturesque restaurants where you will find the delicious local gastronomy. You can relax, but also practise sport, or having long walks.

Written by Stefania Maffeo Translation by Linda Liguori