The most romantic places in Umbria

Are you an incurable romantic? Then Umbria is the right destination for you! Of places to spend unforgettable moments in sweet company, on Valentine’s Day or any other day of the year, there are so many.

What are the most romantic places in Umbria? We have selected six that we think best embody this feeling.

Terni, the city of love

Among the most romantic places in Umbria we could not fail to mention Terni, known, even beyond national borders, as the city of love since its patron saint, St. Valentine, the protector of lovers, was born there and became a bishop. Among the many legends surrounding his figure, the most poignant is the one about two young lovers, the legionary Sabinus and the beautiful Serapia, whom Bishop Valentine united in marriage against all obstacles and difficulties. The saint’s remains are kept in the basilica dedicated to him located just outside the historic center. In the center of the basilica’s chancel is Valentine’s Well where letters with messages of love from all over the world are collected. Every year, in February, the city pays tribute to the saint with a calendar full of initiatives, including the Feast of the Promise, a celebration dedicated to engaged couples who within the year will say “yes” at the altar.

Lovers’ Balcony at Marmore Falls

In the heart of the Valnerina, a few kilometers from Terni, is the Marmore Falls, one of the best-known attractions in the entire region. It is formed by the Velino River, which flows into the Nera River as it descends from Piediluco Lake. At 165 meters, it is one of the highest waterfalls in Europe. Here hides a real love nest. We are talking about the Lovers’ Balcony, a small terrace carved into the rock overlooking the waterfall, indeed under the first jump of the waterfall. The perfect place to exchange a (wet) kiss. It is reached by going up path number 1 and going through the tunnel of the same name, which is a kind of low, wet cave.

Lake Trasimeno

One of the most romantic places in Umbria is undoubtedly Lake Trasimeno, a true natural paradise where swans, storks and mallards flock. Surrounded by rolling hills and green valleys, it has enchanted artists and writers such as Perugino, Byron or Goethe. The lake takes its name, as legend has it, from the son of the god Turreno, the protagonist of a tragic love affair with the nymph Agilla. The sunsets that can be enjoyed from the towns on the shores of the lake (Passignano sul Trasimeno, San Feliciano, Tuoro sul Trasimeno and Castiglione del Lago) are truly spectacular. Then a visit to Isola Maggiore, one of the three natural islands of Lake Trasimeno, is very romantic.

The enchanted village of Spello

Another romantic place to visit is the enchanted village of Spello, the town of flower-lined alleys and the Corpus Christi Flower Festival, a historical-religious event that transforms the streets of the historic center into a scenic carpet of flowers. Positioned between Assisi and Foligno, it is part of the prestigious club of “The Most Beautiful Villages in Italy.” Of its beauty had already been noticed by the ancient Romans. The Emperor Augustus, in fact, had renamed it the Splendidissima Colonia Julia. Things to see include the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, inside which is the famous Baglioni Chapel frescoed in the 16th century by Pintoricchio. We recommend visiting the village in spring, when the alleys are full of floral decorations.

The Vicolo Baciadonne in Città della Pieve

In the delightful medieval town of Città della Pieve, on the other hand, is the charming Vicolo Baciadonne, one of the most romantic and narrowest alleys in Italy, which, at its widest point, is no more than 80 centimeters. The name came about as a result of a dispute between neighbors in the Middle Ages. According to popular tradition, the two neighbors decided to detach their houses, giving rise to this narrow alley, which was later called Baciadonne because two passersby walking down it in opposite directions were forced to stand so close that their lips brushed against each other. Even today it is still used as an expedient to snatch a kiss from one’s beloved or loved one.

The Sources of Clitunno

Finally, you cannot miss the idyllic Sources of Clitunno in the town of Campello sul Clitunno. Here the spring waters, from the river of the same name, flow out of the ground and feed a placid little lake with extremely clear waters with emerald reflections. Framing and making the visit magical and romantic is a refined Zen-style garden where lush plants grow. Near the fountains stands the Tempietto del Clitunno, an early Christian building since 2011 recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The place has been a source of inspiration since ancient times for painters, poets and writers. So why not be inspired by this enchanting place for a declaration of love?

Photo Vicolo Baciadonne © Città della Pieve