5 travel ideas for a special Saint Valentine’s Day in Italy

In its valleys the Trentino region encompasses a host of small romantic villages –recognized by the association of “Borghi più Belli d’Italia” (“the most beautiful villages of Italy”) – with stone houses, courtyards and old barns, each offering home-style recipes worth tasting, the ideal locations for a romantic trip to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day. Your couple’s itinerary can start from Canale di Tenno, a medieval village on a hill overlooking the turquoise waters of Lake Tenno; here it is worth stopping in one of its inns to taste one of the local typical dishes: carne salada coi fasoi. A little further on, you’ll find Rango, an amazing example of rural alpine architecture: after a walk hand-in-hand among its barns and its cobbled streets, make sure you try the famous Bleggio walnut pie. From here, you can set off again towards San Lorenzo in Banale, set between the Brenta Dolomites and Lake Garda: scattered over seven hamlets, this village is an invitation to discover ancient rural traditions and tasty traditional cold cuts, like ciuiga.

Instead, overlooking Lake Idro you’ll find Bondone, an ancient village of coalmen, where you can venture into its labyrinth of lanes admiring the frescoes that decorate the facades of the houses and try the energizing polenta carbonera, a hit of the cuisine from Trentino. Then move to the eastern side of Trentino to discover romantic Mezzano, a village at the foot of the wonderful Pala Group that will bowl you over with its cataste e canzei, a permanent exhibition of wooden architectures; before leaving try tosela di Primiero, a local cheese best sampled with polenta and luganega from Trentino. Your romantic tour through the historic villages of Trentino can end in Vigo di Fassa, a sunny village from which you can admire the Marmolada, the queen of the Dolomites, as she turns pink at sunset, visit museums and taste typical Ladin dishes like cajoncie da fighes and cher de fascia.

If you want a Saint Valentine’s Day at a slow pace dedicated to wellness and culture, we recommend you spend a romantic weekend in the Maremma area, in southern Tuscany, among thermal springs, historic villages and idyllic landscapes. Your ideal starting point could be Saturnia, a town with an archaeological park hosting ruins from the Etruscan and Roman ages, striking natural waterfalls of thermal water - the Cascate del Mulino – as well as some of the most famous thermal baths in the world, dating as far back as ancient times. Having left Saturnia, head for Sovana, in the heart of the Tuff area: a noteworthy Etruscan center, medieval and Renaissance village, and episcopal center, it will amaze you with its houses carved out of tuff and its exquisite medieval palaces; just beyond it, you’ll come across Sorano, an ancient city founded in the most flourishing Etruscan period, where you can browse the workshops of the craftsmen and women who make and sell picturesque ceramic artefacts, visit the Renaissance fortress and the archaeological park of the City of Tuff, with its necropolis carved into the rocks.

Your next stop will be Pitigliano, a center built thousands of years ago, located on a cliff, also carved out of tuff: plan your visit at sunset, and treat your eyes to a host of breathtaking, romantic views. Pitigliano jealousy preserves traces of prehistoric settlements, Etruscan tombs and Roman ruins. You can also stroll through the old alleys of the Jewish ghetto, which earned it the title of “Little Jerusalem”, and appreciate the excellent white wines produced locally, especially the Bianco di Pitigliano. To round off your romantic trip, we recommend Capalbio, a historic village surrounded by walls and full of medieval architecture, skimmed by the rolling hills of the Maremma scrub and unspoilt beaches. Last but not least, before leaving, take a stroll in the beautiful nature reserve surrounding the shores of Lake Burano.

Lake Garda offers the right combination of relaxation, nature and culture, perfect for a Saint Valentine’s Day packed with ideas and attractions. The most suitable location for your sweet weekend for two has to be Sirmione, with its peninsula stretching out on the lake, its striking views and historic center. Sirmione is fascinating to cover on foot, to explore emblematic attractions like the Scaligero Castle and the Roman ruins of the Grottoes of Catullus, and the location’s characteristic alleys, but is also an amazing destination to visit on board a motorboat, for an ultra-scenic perspective of this beautiful town. As well as the rich cultural wealth offered by its historic center, Sirmione is also an ideal venue for a relaxing trip thanks to its famous thermal baths, overlooking the lake, as their famous waters have unrivalled therapeutic and preventive properties.

In the evening, head to nearby Desenzano, where you can enjoy an aperitif and dinner, and take a romantic walk along the walls of the Castle, admiring the lights of the lake from above. Your romantic tour can then continue further north, in Gardone Riviera, one of the most famous resorts of Lake Garda, affording amazing views of Mount Baldo. Here you can visit the “Vittoriale degli italiani”, residence of Gabriele D’Annunzio and a little farther on, you’ll find the renowned center of Salò, rich in history, architecture and art, where you can stroll along the pretty lakefront or enjoy some typical Garda cuisine, with delicious dishes made from freshly caught fish.

If you want to pamper yourself with a Saint Valentine’s Day dedicated not only to the mind and body, but also to the palate, choose something different: a trip of discovery to South Tyrol, and a stay in one of its traditional masi, ancient rural homes which have today been turned into cozy agritourism facilities and excellent bed & breakfasts. In the masi of the “Gallo Rosso” group, 1.600 ‘holiday farms’ scattered all over South Tyrol, in both isolated and central locations, you can enjoy an out-of-the ordinary experience, rediscovering old agricultural customs at a slow pace: this is the perfect occasion to taste some authentic flavors, enjoy rural life surrounded by nature and also recuperate your psychological and physical wellbeing with hay saunas, milk baths, detoxifying treatments and reinvigorating massages.

And while relaxing the mind and pampering the body, it’s then time to take care of your taste buds: the host of the maso will offer you the chance to taste the typical home cooking of South Tyrol, full of local produce and characteristic flavors. You will also learn how to recognize herbs and the virtues of plants, secrets handed down from generation to generation. And if there is some other aspect of country life that interests you, aside from wellness, just ask! There is a maso for all needs and tastes: in addition to masi dedicated to wellness, in the Gallo Rosso group you will find also masi specialized in sports activities, food & wine, organic farming and historic houses, all perfectly kept, providing you with the ideal opportunity to immerse yourself in the splendor of bygone days.

If for Saint Valentine’s Day you want to spend a weekend with your partner in the ultimate romantic location, there is only one obvious choice: Verona, the city where Shakespeare set the most famous romance of all times: that of Romeo and Juliet. The myth of the two lovers lives again in the medieval Juliet’s House, but also in the ancient squares of the city, its lanes, courtyards, fascinating views and along the meanders of river Adige. To mark Saint Valentine’s Day, this year the city of Verona is organizing the event Verona in Love: from 12 to 16 February 2020, from Piazza Bra to Juliet’s House, the most evocative corners of the city will turn red with decorations and lighting; the city will also host markets of local handicrafts (arranged in a classic heart shape), tasting sessions, guided walks for couples, on a trail of discovery in pursuit of the mysteries and legends of Romeo and Juliet, themed dinners and many other romantic surprises.