Valentine’s day: 8 original ideas ♥

Valentine’s Day, without a doubt, has now become a commercial celebration. Its roots, however, originate from distant Roman traditions (the so-called “Lupercalia”) that were later modified by the Church and which gave rise to a large part of court literature. A long story which has brought to us today an opportunity to celebrate the power and feeling of love in our own way.
If you don’t want to celebrate with the classic candlelit dinner in a restaurant, you are in the right place! In this article I will suggest alternative ideas for an unusual and unforgettable February 14th…

1) THE GREAT DANCE

Halfway between Terni and Spoleto in the small town of Strettura, the Valentine’s Ball at the enchanting Palazzo del Papa has now reached its 20th edition. Here it is tradition (even among young people) to participate in a gala dinner, followed by dancing late into the night. There is also a beneficial purpose to this in that funds raised are donated to the “I Pagliacci” association. Don’t forget that Terni is the city of origin of the martyr bishop and from whom the party takes its name. Throughout the entire month of February you can find many themed events for all tastes. Here is the complete programme:
http://www.turismo.comune.terni.it/en/st-valentine

2) LOVE IS IN THE AIR …

…If it is true that your love burns as bright as the flame that allows a hot air balloon to fly high, then take your loved one by the hand and give yourselves the dream of taking your love 3000m into the sky…
This is the slogan of Charbonnier Mongolfiere, a hot air balloon company which organises scenic flights every year for Valentine’s Day. Situated in Aosta and immersed in the snowy mountains, flights on the balloon last an hour and soar at a height of 2000 to 3000m. You really will have your heads in the clouds!
http://www.mongolfiere.it/index_e.asp

3) AN EVENING EN NOIR ET BLANCHE

If you are housewives, dreamers and movie lovers, you cannot help but spend your Valentine’s Day snuggled on the sofa, savoring one of the historical black and white romantic comedies. A romcom capable of transporting you to a retro time, when letters and serenades under the balcony still existed. There are plenty of films to choose from, to name just a few; Manhattan, Casablanca, It Happened One Night, Sabrina, I Will Save You.

4) IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF PAOLO AND FRANCESCA

As Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year, an excellent idea would be to dedicate the whole weekend and celebrate with a trip out of town! The village of Gradara, situated in the Marche region, is said to have been the scene of the famous and tragic love story of Paolo and Francesca and, from 14th to 16th of February, offers a whole series of activities for lovers such as animations, fishing from the well of poems for love dedications, concerts, and guided visits to the lovers’ medieval castle. In 2018, Gradara was elected the most beautiful village and therefore will additionaly offer you outstanding landscapes and a lot of cultural and historical attractions to admire. Below is the complete programme of events:
https://www.gradara.org/en/

5) THE PLAYFUL SIDE

We all have a child-like part within us and this is why at times we can be passionate about games and solving mysteries. For this reason, another nice idea for Valentine’s Day would be to organise a treasure hunt for your partner, carefully planning it down to the smallest of detail (the path to be carried out, the “tests” to be overcome, the clues on the notes…) and eventually providing a surprise that amazes him/her at the end! An excellent idea for this could be a particular prize, or perhaps a place that has meaning to both of you.
Otherwise, take yourselves to Milan where the B-Floor restaurant offers “dinner with crime”. This dinner comes with a twist when a murder is staged and it is then up to the diners to discover who the culprit is… The winners will receive their dinner for free!

6) TAKE YOURSELVES BY THE TASTEBUDS

Do you love cooking? Or do you like eating but you are not at all skilled in the kitchen and you never have time to dedicate yourself to it? In both cases, the solution may be to spend Valentine’s Day participating in a cooking class for couples, where, with the help of a chef, you can learn how to prepare delicious and aphrodisiac dishes, which of course you can taste at the end of the lesson. It is an activity available in various cities so just do a quick search on the internet to find the one closest to you! Among the various proposals, I recommend the site with courses organised by Eataly:
https://www.eataly.com/us_en/classes-and-events

7) THROW YOURSELVES INTO THE UNKNOWN

Throw yourselves into the unknown… safely! Isn’t that one of the sensations we feel when we are in love? Then why not really do it?! In a village in the Valtellina mountains, near Sondrio, you can participate in this adrenaline-filled experience as a couple. Using a harness, you will both be fixed to a rope that joins two mountain peaks. Then, with the help of a cart, you will be carried along the rope, soaring over the beautiful valleys. Here is the website:
http://www.flyemotion.it/en

8) TO THE PLANETARIUM OF TURIN

What could be more beautiful for two lovers than to embrace each other under a sky full of stars? Turin’s Astronomy and Space Museum opens its doors on the evening of 14th February to all lovers (of the sky) and allows them to visit all the interactive scientific stations distributed across the 4 floors of the museum. There is then dinner under the transparent dome and finally, an opportunity to admire the stars, from the exploration terrace, visible with the naked eye as well as, with the help of the scientific staff, a telescope. For more information, visit the official website:
http://www.planetarioditorino.it/infinito/en/san-valentino-2020/infinito

Happy Valentine’s Day!!!