A European vacation with someone special is always romantic, but step inside these three cities, and you’ll feel something magical. We think Paris, Verona and Venice are the most romantic cities in Europe, and we’d love to hear what you think is the best place in Europe for intimate dinners, moonlit strolls and kisses that stop only because you’re smiling too hard.
Paris
The word “Paris” almost begs to be pronounced with a wistful sigh. In the spring, few cities come to life the way Paris does. Flowers bloom, cafes throw open their doors and windows, and couples take to the French capital’s green spaces for impromptu picnics. Whether you’re cruising down the Seine, climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower, or getting lost together in a labyrinth of cobblestone streets, Paris’ stunning architecture and secret alcoves seem to be specially made for lovers. In the film Casablanca, Rick tells Ilsa, “We’ll always have Paris,” and anyone who’s ever been in love in the City of Light knows exactly what he means.
Verona
Fair Verona, where Shakespeare laid his scene, is the site of one of English literature’s great tragedies. The star-crossed lovers Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are mere children by modern standards, and their families’ long-standing rivalry should condemn them to a life of enmity. But though “the orchard walls are high and hard to climb, and the place death considering who thou art,” Romeo cannot resist the stunning Juliet; he is driven to something approaching madness, as the foolhardy strictures of a destructive family feud keep him from his beloved. In the end, Romeo and Juliet take their own lives, choosing to spend eternity together in death rather than bear one more moment apart in life. Today, Verona is inextricably linked with Shakespeare’s best-known tragedy, and visitors can stand in the courtyard below Juliet’s balcony just as Romeo did. As you leave Verona, you’ll begin to understand Juliet’s famous good-bye: “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
Venice
Even when you’re in a city of millions, the world can shrink to just two people when you’re in love. When you find yourself in a Venetian gondola, with the sun setting over the Lagoon and that special someone in your arms, you forget about the city’s beautiful churches, the delicious meal you shared the night before, even the gondolier softly singing an Italian love song at the back of your boat. In that moment, the outside world doesn’t matter because it ceases to exist; you two are here, in Venice, watching another perfect day draw to a close. The only downside is that this perfect moment will only last so long. Of course, that’s just another reason for you to come back to the place one writer described as “undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man.”
Happy Valentine’s Day from Go Ahead Tours.
