Valentine's Day in Tuscany

Valentine’s Day is the most romantic day of the year, the day of lovers.

The holiday has its origins in the ancient pagan ritual dedicated to the god Lupercus and practised by the Romans until the 4th century before Christ.

With the advent of Christianity, the feast was transformed into a day dedicated to Bishop Valentine of Interamma, patron saint of young lovers, martyred under Emperor Claudius II. Tradition has it that his remains can be found in Terni in the basilica that carries his name.

Today, Valentine’s Day is a day to dedicate to the person you love, away from everything and everyone, a special day to declare or to remind them of your love for them.

The feast in its present form dates back to England of the 15th century and to this day, the exchange of cards is still very widespread. Even in Italy, lovers exchange gifts and cards, flowers, or books and often take off for a short vacation or a romantic weekend getaway.

Say it with flowers

Those who choose to give flowers on Valentine’s Day would do well to learn the significance associated with each flower.

In addition to the traditional (and always appreciated) red roses, you can give cyclamens which represent unconditional love, or ivy which symbolizes attachment to the loved one, white carnations for pure love, a branch of myrtle, symbol of love and sacred plant of Venus, orchids, said to possess aphrodisiacal properties, or even tulips: red for a declaration of love, white to tell her that her eyes are beautiful, or yellow for love without hope.

Ideas for a romantic St. Valentine’s Day in Tuscany

One way to spend Valentine’s Day is to head off to a quiet location and enjoy a peaceful, romantic vacation with the one you love. Our location, nestled between the hills of Siena and the plains of the Maremma, is a wonderful choice for that romantic getaway in the relaxing surroundings of a Tuscan hilltop village.

Casina di Rosa is a perfect choice for your Valentine’s Day holiday in Tuscany and we usually have a special offer for our guests. Visit our special offers page to find out more.

Here are a few ideas for how to spend your Valentine’s Day vacation while staying at Casina di Rosa.

St. Valentine’s Day in the Maremma

If what you’re looking for is the tranquillity of open spaces then there is nothing more suitable than our corner of Tuscany. The Upper Maremma is the least populated area of Italy, free of heavy industry and densely populated cities.

You can choose a romantic walk in one of the coastal towns like Castiglione della Pescaia, Talamone, Porto Santo Stefano, Marina di Grosseto or a nature walk along one of the many trails in the Maremma Natural Park. The park also has many trails for biking and horseback riding.

Visit the Etruscan ruins around Pitigliano, Sorano, Sovana, Magliano in Toscana and the surrounding areas.

If you like good food, this itinerary for Valentine’s Day in Tuscany offers you the chance to enjoy a meal of fresh seafood or, if you prefer, the more traditional specialities of the region like wild boar, hare, pheasant and deer, wild mushrooms, truffles, and aged cheeses.

Don’t forget to ask for a glass of Morellino di Scansano or Bianco di Pitigliano to accompany your meal.

Valentine’s Day at the Spa

For spa lovers, we highly recommend a relaxing bath in the natural thermal hot springs at the Petriolo, if it’s not too cold of course! Hidden in the woods with free access to the public, the baths are only 15 minutes from Casina di Rosa. It’s worth stopping for a walk around the nearby village of Pari, a perfectly preserved medieval hilltop village which offers a spectacular view across the valley of the river Merse.

In just over an hour you can reach the more famous thermal baths of Saturnia in the heart of the Maremma. If you wish to enjoy hot springs against the backdrop of rolling Sienese hills, try the thermal baths at Chianciano Terme, Montepulciano or the spa at the beautiful village of Bagno Vignoni.

Valentine’s Day on film locations in Tuscany

For a vacation a bit out of the ordinary, from Casina di Rosa you can visit, each day, the locations where famous films were shot. Bertolucci’s Stealing Beauty, Benigni’s Pinocchio, or Sturridge’s Monteriano, taken from a book by Forster and filmed in San Gimignano are just some of the many famous films made nearby. Other sites worth a visit include the abbey of San Galgano, Val d’Elsa and, naturally, Florence and Siena.

Valentine’s Day in the mountains

For a change of scenery without ever leaving the heart of Tuscany, another interesting choice for Valentine’s Day is a trip to Monte Amiata. For outdoor enthusiasts, the peak of the mountain offers skiing. You can explore the many small villages that make up this mountain community, such as Radicofani, Abbadia San Salvatore, Piancastagnaio, Arcidosso, Castel del Piano and Seggiano. Don’t miss the many varieties of local dishes made with chestnuts.

Water themed St. Valentine’s Day in Tuscany

Another idea for a different way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in Tuscany follows the theme of “Water in Tuscany”. You could, for example, visit the old mills with their giant water wheels, some of which are still in operation and which have been featured in television commercials. You could follow an itinerary that takes you through the fountains in Siena and the surrounding villages.

Get off the beaten track with a visit to the beautiful Bottini di Siena, anunderground aquaduct carved out of volcanic tuff stone. There is also the Labyrinth of Porsenna in Chiusi, a network of tunnels dating back to the Etruscan era that ends at a Roman-era cistern located underneath a bell tower. The area around Chiusi encompasses many other mysterious and interesting subterranean sites that offer an
opportunity to make Valentine’s Day unforgettable. Also recommended are visits to the lakes at Chiusi and Montepulciano.

There are many different possibilities for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day in Tuscany.

We would be happy to recommend and guide you to the best restaurants where you can dine by candlelight while sipping a glass of fine Tuscan wine.

Casina di Rosa’s travel deals for St. Valentine’s Day

Casina di Rosa offers discounts and special gifts for a very romantic St. Valentine’s Day in Tuscany.

Banner photo by Moekat.