Horse-drawn carriages, cobblestone streets, artistic treasures, culinary delights – the sights, sounds and tastes of Firenze (Florence) can awaken amore in even the most skeptical heart.  And when the sweetness of St. Valentine’s Day warms the February breezes blowing over the Arno, there is perhaps no better place to find romance.

St. Valentine's Day in Firenze
Although St. Valentine’s Day is celebrated in most western societies, it is fitting that Cupid’s big day originated in Italy, the cradle of romance. The holiday takes its name from the martyred Valentine, a somewhat mysterious Roman priest of the third century. The legend varies about exactly who St. Valentine was or what he did to become forever linked to the joys of amorous affection, but he is reputed to have had a special sensitivity to the plights of lovers.  It is believed that around the year 498, Pope Gelasius I declared that the feast of St. Valentine would occur annually on February 14.

Over the next 1,500 years, the day grew in significance, engendering popular customs such as the exchange of gifts or greeting cards.  In Italy, sweethearts exchange china baskets filled with candies; in America, it is heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and other sweets. And, everywhere, it’s the day to express tender sentiments of love.  

Poetry and Pasta
Nowhere in Italy does the heart of the holiday beat stronger than in Firenze, a city as renowned for the rich treasures of its artistic and literary history as it is for the soft beauty of its sunsets. For centuries, lovers have strolled through the meticulously maintained Boboli gardens arm in arm, enjoyed the Renaissance-era fountains and pathways, or shared a carafe of vino at the charming cafés and restaurants lining the streets. On Valentine’s Day, this passion reaches its pinnacle, as honeymooners and soul mates, tourists and natives alike, flood the city to celebrate – and perhaps find – true love.

It was in Firenze, after all, that Dante was inspired to write La Vita Nuova, his poignant ode to Beatrice, the love of his life.  The first stanza of what has long been considered the most romantic poem ever put to paper – and a tribute to Firenze as a haven for lovers – reads:

To every captive soul and gentle lover
Into whose sight this present rhyme may chance,
That, writing back, each may expound its sense
Greetings in Love, who is their Lord, I offer.

Although revered as the city’s native son, Dante is not the only poet who embraced and advanced its romantic legacy.  Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, two of England’s most treasured poets, adopted Firenze as their home, spending their idyllic marriage together in Casa Guidi, a site dating from the 15th century that now stands as a landmark to the couple’s enduring affection and mutual literary achievement.   How do I love thee? / Let me count the ways, Elizabeth wrote – perhaps the most well-known line of poetry of all time.

In addition to being a fashionable spot for star-crossed sweethearts, Firenze is a magnet for lovers of Tuscan food.  With its array of robust flavors, fine wines and sweet treats, Florentine cuisine is perfect for the most romantic meal of the year – Valentine’s Day dinner (which you can try at home with our dinner for two ).

On that winter’s eve, long after the sun has set behind the Ponte Santa Trinitá bridge, couples linger at cozy tables filled with a flavorful abundance of local produce, meats, cheeses and desserts.  Hearty soups, pastas, bean dishes and steaks bathed in the region’s prized extra virgin olive oil are among the night’s many gastronomic treasures.  And when dinner is done and the candles have burned low, the sound of lovers leaning towards each other, whispering “Cara mia, ti voglio bene” murmurs once again through this timeless town.