So you’ve decided to pop the question? Or you want a whirlwind week of romance which you hope will prompt your partner to spontaneously take to one knee? Either way, there are not many places more romantic than Tuscany. The rolling hills, the architecture, the art, the food, the wine…….just thinking about it has us sending inappropriate messages of proposal to exes we haven’t spoken to since way back when. So, with all that romanticising out the way, we’ve teamed up with Oliver’s Travels to bring you our 5 reasons why Tuscany is the IDEAL destination to propose.
The Aesthetics of Florence
Look up love in the dictionary and a picture of Florence appears. The city is a synonym for romance and it’s easy to see why. Renaissance art and architecture stands proud but not boastful; it truly is elegance in visual form. The humanist art which so permeates all aesthetics of this part of Italy celebrates the female form (see Boticelli’s The Birth of Venus) in reverent fashion….could there be a better inspiration – a more apt framing – for a marriage proposal?
The Cathedrals and Churches
The organ song. The aisle. The altar. Temples of religion are full of wedding imagery, and Florence’s cathedral, The Duomo, is one of the most celebrated in the world. One would have to own a heart made of marbled stone not to feel romantic following a stroll around its iconic interior. Don’t stop at Florence though, when in search of cathedrals and churches – there are hundreds across the region. Probably of most note, Pisa’s Cathedral Complex is still pretty awe-inspiring, regardless of the throngs of tourists keen to capture that photograph.
The Seclusion
Outside of Tuscany’s capital is blissful, seemingly never-ending countryside. The rolling hills of lush green are awe-inspiring and epic, and most important for a holiday with romance in mind; secluded, to say the least. The Casentino is a designated national park, where hiking options abound, minus the usually ubiquitous tourists in a place of such international repute.
The Wining and Dining
Talking of sloping hills and lush countryside, no trip to Tuscany would be complete without a visit to Chianti. Let the romance flow in tandem with the wine on a vineyard tour, taking in tasting and the fresh, clean air in a picture perfect setting. The food of Tuscany also lends itself superbly to love. Cooking here is characterised by light ingredients and respectful cooking, meaning you’ll be light on your feet (or knee) following a gorgeous meal here. We might recommend staying off the beans though, so enjoyed in this part of the world, if you don’t want the big moment to be interrupted by some unexpected wind.
The Beaches
Although we immediately think of Flora when thinking of Tuscany, the region is also home to some delectable beaches. The white, gentle sand will be the perfect cushion for your knee, and the beach a perfect bed for post-proposal celebrations.So what are you waiting for?