Since the days of Chaucer and the Elizabethans
there were verses, trinkets and love tokens exchanged on this day.
Hand painted with birds, flowers
and hearts, the products of an elegant society and education, these valentines were made in limited
numbers.
A vintage Valentine would be lst choice for women who love antiques .
2nd choice -For the adventurous traveling woman, a visit to Terni, (100 kms. from Rome) where St. Valentine was bishop and died a martyr
in 273. Hundreds of couples visit the tomb of the patron saint of lovers at the
Basilica just outside town on this day.
Stop to see the romantic Marmore waterfalls nearby, created by the
Romans in the 2nd century B.C.
On the way to Terni, stop for a romantic weekend at the Castello di Proceno perched on a hilltop near the border between Lazio and Tuscany.
On the way to Terni, stop for a romantic weekend at the Castello di Proceno perched on a hilltop near the border between Lazio and Tuscany.
3rd choice - If you are in Rome, make a visit to view the sensuous sculptures of Canova and Bernini at the Borghese Gallery.
Drop in the gallery's restaurant afterwards for tea and, to remember the day, purchase a souvenir from the well stocked bookshop.
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| Approach to Galleria Borghese, Rome, once home to Paolina Bonaparte-Borghese |
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| Bernini's sensuous Apollo and Daphne |
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| Have the room to yourselves, at lunchtime in February |
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| Roman statue from the Louvre |
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| Paolina Bonaparte-Borghese as Venus, Canova's masterpiece |
Erotic Etruscan
chocolate can be found hidden behind a discreet red curtain in a central pastry shop in Viterbo.
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| Book of Dante's love sonnets, 1921 |
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| Illustrated by Dante Gabriele Rossetti |
Most women would be perfectly happy with one of these surprises, two or three would be preferable. Let us know your ideas for special places to spend Valentine's Day where you live.
L'Antica Lateria's chocolates would be my first choice as travelling very far in the cold and snow wouldn't be so much fun this year. Christina
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'm an adventurous woman, but I really like the idea of spending St. Valentine in Terni visiting the tomb of the patron saint of the lovers.
ReplyDeleteSome years ago I went in St. Valentine day at the restaurant in Locanda Cipriani in Torcello and it was wonderful because in this period there are few people and the island seems to live in a different world, so soft, so lonely, so romantic...
Christina, you are right about Antica Latteria's chocolates...and their gelato (!) probably the best in Viterbo. It was a daily stop when my daughter went to school in that area.
ReplyDeleteDaniela, Torcello is a very romantic spot near Venezia. I visited years ago but not to Locanda Cipriani out of my price range. Lucky you to live so close to these beautiful places.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know, it's very expensive, but once in a lifetime...
DeleteAs a local (www.joyfulit.it ) you might be able to tell us the names of other great places to eat, romantic walks in and around Venice, Treviso...
ReplyDeleteThese are all great suggestions ! I have very fond memories of Rome myself, such a wonderful city! And the ice cream, oh, the ice cream;)
ReplyDelete