Just a quick brief about who is Saint Valentine.
Who was him and why do we associate him to “love”?
The day is named after a Catholic priest named Valentine, who lived in Rome in the 3rd Century when the emperor was Claudius II who was a pagan. In that time many people were turning to Christianism and Claudius put strict laws against it since he said people should be devoted to Rome and therefore he forbade marriage even from soldiers. But secretly, Valentine was marrying this couples in Christian ceremonies and this was the beginning of his reputation for believing in the importance of love.
For this reason he was punished to death on February 14th. And in the 5th century Pope Gelasius established Saint Valentine’s day in honor of this dedication to love and to this day we still celebrate him!
Everyone knows that Italians are in love with love, it is no surprise that February 14th is an important date in our country, so now we would tell you the different ways to celebrate Valentine’s like an Italian.
Valentine’s day traditions in Liguria, Italy
The ‘Lovers in Camogli’ festival in Valentine’s week is full of the most romantic of Italian culture and traditions. Takes place every year in the week leading up to St Valentine’s day, ending on the day itself. No-one really knows its origins, and no-one really cares. All anyone knows is that it’s a great place to take a special person to celebrate Valentine’s day traditions in Italy.Many events take place during the feast, such as a poetry competition and an art one. Along the promenade there’s also a Valentine’s market!
Valentine’s day in the lovely Verona
Remember Shakespeare’s most tragically romantic of plays, ‘Romeo and Juliet’? It’s made Verona, where it was set, one of the most popular of all Italian towns to celebrate Valentine’s day.
Verona in love’ will teach you Valentine’s day facts you never knew before and introduce you to some of the most creative of all Valentine’s day ideas to charm your loved one. Join in the ‘minute long kiss’, or make sure of your own good fortune in love by touching Juliet’s statue.
The city is host to “Un Cuore da Scoprire” (Verona in Love) every year on the 13th and 14th of February. The celebration includes an array of great events such as; the Valentines Market with stalls set up in the shape of a heart (as shown in the picture above). Romantic walks down Via Mazzini (decorated with rouge hearts), free music & dancing, love letters addressed to Shakespeare’s Juliet and more. Needless to say, the home of Romeo & Juliet comes alive at this time of year and it’s definitely something not to be missed
Venice, the most romantic city to enjoy in Italy
Venice, the city emits a romantic energy that couples cannot help but act upon. The old-fashioned methods of transportation help make it so romantic: visitors are taken back in history as they can opt to use either feet or gondola.
Each year, the city conducts a symbolic marriage ceremony between Venice and the sea, a tradition that began in the year 997 and still takes place to this day. One could only hope for a relationship as dedicated as this.
Valentine’s day history and its real meaning can sometimes seem to have got lost in the scramble to buy commercially-produced cards and presents.
The tradition of locking padlocks to bridges, railings and lamp posts began in Italy a little more than four years ago after the release of the best-selling book “Ho voglio di te” (I want you) by the Italian author Federico Moccia. This was followed by the popular movie with the same name starring Riccardo Scamarcio and Laura Chiatti.
So go on, give your Valentine the most romantic gift of all this year in Italy.
