5 romantic places in Italy for Valentine’s

Known as ‘La Festa Degli Innamorati’ - the day of Lovers, Valentine’s Day has the very roots of it’s being in Italy.

Valentine was a priest killed on February 16th (and later sainted) for defying the Roman Emperor and marrying lovers in wartime even though it was expressly forbidden as the Emperor believed single men made better soldiers.

So we want to give you our top 5 most romantic places to visit in Italy and the food we love to enjoy there…

Cefalù

Cefalù in Sicily is an attractive historic north coast town and seaside resort with beautiful clear waters, wonderful seafood and a fascinating history. Conveniently located a 2 hour drive from both our olive producer to the east and our oregano producer to the South.

Venice 

Maybe a little obvious but there is a reason it is so very popular. The architecture, the history, the intimacy. Although very touristy, it is still possible to enjoy romantic moments. Visit September to November to avoid the worst of the crowds. And although very busy February is a fun time to visit and enjoy the sights and sounds of the Carnival. Nibble on some of the local Bibanesi bread sticks made by hand only in the area. Our Manuel coffee range is also from this area and trust us Venetians are very fussy about their coffee!

Matera 

Situated in the southern region of Basilicata, this ancient city sits on a rocky hilltop and is this year’s European city of Culture and has a crumbling beauty. After the war, Matera was one of Europe’s poorest cities, families lived in grottoes, called “Sassi” (literally stones), caves carved out of the limestone, many of which are preserved as museums. This is where our pasta producer Vero Lucano comes from, a consortium of artisan bakers who use exclusively raw materials produced in the Basilicata region, and recovering historical recipes from the city of Matera.

Modena

This city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna is famous for its architecture, music, art, cured meats, cheese, Ferraris and surrounding countryside. A popular spot for foodies, this region has many romantic boutique hotels not to mention Massimo Bottura’s restaurant – considered the best in the world by many. We love our aged Parmigiano Reggiano from the region and our range of Balsamic Vinegars.

Positano

Again, maybe an obvious choice but we love Positano, a cliffside village on southern Italy's Amalfi Coast. With its pebble beachfront and steep, narrow streets lined with boutiques and cafes, and warm sunshine, it is a romantic place to visit. The region is famous for its lemons and fruit production so it is of little surprise that this is where we source our Limoncello and dried fruit baskets containing locally grown figs, walnuts, dates and almonds.