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The top 10 most romantic places to visit in Italy

On this most romantic of days, we thought it was only right to share our thoughts on what are the top 10 most romantic towns and cities in Italy. After all, Valentine came from Italy and was actually a Roman priest at the time of the Emperor Claudius II. Claudius had forbidden the marriage of young people, as he believed that unmarried soldiers fought better than married ones. However, according to the legend, Valentine forbade this edict, secretly marrying young couples who had fallen head over heels in love. Valentine’s actions didn’t escape the attention of the Emperor for long though and, unfortunately, he was beheaded for his actions. The story has it that the last words Valentine wrote were in a letter, signing it ‘From your Valentine’ inspiring today’s romantic missives. So if you are looking to kindle the flame of romance with your loved one this Valentine’s Day, which are the top 10 most romantic places to visit in Italy….? Terni Perhaps surprisingly, Terni is the first on our list of most romantic places in Italy. However, with the town’s links to St Valentine, how could we not include it?!! Terni is a small hilltop town in Umbria. In 1644, the residents of the city of Terni proclaimed Valentine their Patron Saint, also declaring him to be the Patron Saint of lovers at the same time. Surely heading to what could arguably be called the birthplace of St Valentine’s Day has to kindle some romance?!! Verona Home as it is to the famous balcony of Romeo and Juliet at the House of Giulietta, Verona is a much more obvious choice to feature in a list of Italy’s most romantic cities. It’s charming cobbled streets are teeming with couples and each year thousands flock to Juliet’s balcony to attach padlocks to the gates, leave letters in the cracks in its walls or have their photo taken. Venice As much as we have tried to exclude it from the list as it seems a bit too predictable, there is no way that a list of the most romantic places in Italy would be complete without including Venice on it. Whilst the tourists that flock to the city can make it feel a bit too busy to offer the chance for some quiet time as a couple during the day, once the crowds have gone home, there is nothing more romantic than being serenaded by your gondolier as he leads you through the narrow canals of the city. Pienza A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996, Pienza too often gets missed off the tourist trail but it definitely deserves it’s place on this list. After all, the town even has streets named ‘Via dell Amore’ (Street of Love) and ‘Via dell Baccio’ (Street of the kiss). It is also home to the Palazzo Piccolomini, which was used as a set location by Franco Zeffirelli to film some of the scenes from arguably his most famous and romantic movie, Romeo and Juliet. Florence Instead of joining the growing trend of lovebirds who bring a padlock with them to the city’s most famous bridge – the Ponte Vecchio – and adding it to the hundreds already in place on the structure of the bridge, be a bit more creative. Head instead to Michelangelo’s Piazza as the sun sets to enjoy a wonderfully romantic view over the city. Polignano al Mare A seaside town tucked right down in the South East of the country in the Puglia region, this is a charming place for couples. And, for those looking to wine and dine their other half, it boasts what is arguably the most romantic restaurant in the world, built into the rocks and enjoying stunning views across the sea. Lovere We couldn’t resist picking this town on the shores of Lake Iseo because of it’s name but it nevertheless deserves to feature in this list. According to the 18th century British writer, Lady Wortley Montagu, this town on the Northern shores of the lake is ‘the most romantic place I have ever seen.’ However, to be honest, Lovere could easily be interchanged with any of the lakeside towns and villages in the North of Italy, on either Lake Iseo, Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta or Lake Como. After all, what can possibly be more romantic than joining the other couples enjoying a passaggiata alongside the lakeside in the evening? Rome Rome is a city where romance is truly in abundance. As in Florence, grab a prime viewing spot to watch the sun setting over the city. We recommend heading to the Piazza Garibaldi in Monteverde. Enjoy a glass of wine and take in the views… Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre The Southernmost town in the Cinque Terre, it’s also probably the most overlooked by tourists who tend to head more to the arguably more dramatic views to be enjoyed from Vernazza and Manarola but this is why we love it. It’s where you can enjoy that perfect romantic selfie without having the crowds in the way! Ravello Ravello is a small Medieval town perching high up on the Amalfi Coast and enjoying stunning views of the Mediterranean. Richard Wagner described the town as the closest place from heaven to earth. However, just as in the Italian Lakes, you could arguably interchange Ravello for one of the other towns on this stretch of Italian coastline. It’s nearby neighbour, Positano, certainly offers the perfect backdrop to any romantic setting. Jo Mackay is Owner of Bookings For You. Bookings For You is a company offering apartment and villa rentals in Italy and France. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Jo Mackay

Jo Mackay is the owner of Bookings For You. Bookings For You is a family run company specialising in apartment and villa rentals in Italy and France. The company currently have over 300 holiday rentals in Italy including villas in Puglia, the Italian Lakes, Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche as well as villas to rent in Provence, Normandy and Acquitaine in France. The company pride themselves on their high levels of customer service.

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6 Comments

  1. Wow, amazing!! I have always wanted to plan a proper Italian getaway that includes a mix of the more popular as well as lesser known places. Definitely saving this post for future reference :)

  2. Really hoping everything turns out okay for Italy right now with the recent Coronavirus outbreak! Love and miss the romantic aspects of Italy. I’m half Italian, born in America — so it will always hold a special place in my heart. My dad loves Positano and I heard great things about Umbria. Seeing Venice is one of my dreams. Want to get there one day with my girlfriend, Italy is full of romantic places to visit!

  3. I love Verona, and find it very romantic, not withstanding any Romeo & Juliet connection, but do people realize it was a work of fiction, there was no actual Juliet’s house as there was no such person? The balcony is a modern construction built using a sarcophagus. In this fictitious tale their love affair lasts for three days and six people die, it’s a tragedy more than a romance.

  4. About two years ago, I planned a trip to Italy which included not only Rome but also the southern cities of Naples and the Amalfi Coast, but also Cinque Terre. That iconic hillside, stepped villages made me want to see it in person. I would venture a guess and say that this area would be less crowded than the Amalfi Coast. That would make it that much more romantic as you’d have less crowds vying for a spot for those selfies.

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