Let’s face it, ALL of Italy is romantic. But in honor of Valentine’s Day, here are five great spots to celebrate romance!
1. A gondola ride in Venice At the top of every hopeless romantic’s bucket list is a private gondola ride through the canals of one of Italy’s most beautiful cities. As the gondola floats through the peaceful waterways and the gondolier and accordion player serenade you with an aria, you’ll experience true, old-fashioned romance. Venice is lovely any time of day, but especially at dusk and at night, and for added ambiance after the ride, enjoy an intimate dinner in a restaurant tucked away from tourists.
2. Lake Como Between dining al fresco at restaurants with spectacular views and strolling along the lakeshore, Lake Como is the picture of dreaminess. With deep blue water and blue-green mountains near Milan and the Italian-Swiss border, this is a perfect couples’ getaway. Ride the funicular train to take in even better views of the surrounding alps, or wander around the tranquil lakeside villages.
3. Gardens of Villa Cimbrone in Ravello Villa Cimbrone’s panoramic clifftop views of the Amalfi Coast are enough to attract anyone – including Greta Garbo and Sir Winston Churchill – to this resort, but the lush and beautiful grounds truly captivate visitors. With rose gardens, orchards, and pines, the fairytale atmosphere is enhanced by stone busts, temples and grottos overlooking the sea. Be sure to steal a kiss on the Terrace of Infinity.
4. Via dell’Amore, Cinque Terre This 25-minute Lovers’ Lane walk, along a paved, flat pathway overlooking the ocean, offers plenty of opportunities to soak in the picturesque views of Cinque Terre from the the cliffs. Stop for a drink at the café along the way, or seal your love with a signature padlock underneath a tunnel on the path.
5. Restaurant Just for Two Solo per Due, outside Rome, could be Italy’s most romantic restaurant. Why? There’s only one table and it is just for two. Read more in our blog post on Solo per Due
By Kathy McCabe
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Photo by magnera, flickr.com
