Friendly disclaimer! We want to be as accurate as possible, but given these challenging times, we urge you to recheck that the venues are open when you decide to travel.

You can sense it in the air – it’s amore. Firenze or Florence in the heart of Tuscany, is the city that inspires romance. The bridges, the gardens, the wines, the food…few places are as magical a setting for a memorable date or proposal than this city, where the Renaissance and the love of all learning began.

Ponte Vecchio – the bridge where souls unite

If you are looking for an ideal quiet spot to propose to your beloved, the bridges after sunset when shops close and the crowds have disappeared, ignites a rare romance. Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) over the River Arno is beautiful and picturesque, with rows of old-fashioned shops, with the bust of Cellini, the Florentine sculptor, as witness!  Any of the beautiful bridges over the river offer great photo ops, and the surrounding charming neighbourhoods like the Oltrarno quarter with artisans and boutique shops make for date nights and afternoons picnics too.  Or to bring a new angle to your romance the centuries old way – cruise along the river alongside ancient bridges aboard a Renaioli, hand in hand with your honey.  

Villa Bardini – the garden where love grows

Every romantic soul must linger in the beautiful garden at Villa Bardini with its old-world charm. As you walk up through ancient stairs and statues, green walkways, pergolas welcome you with flowers and fragrances, fountains and sculptures and fragments of the garden’s original medieval walls. Founded by the famed 19th-century art dealer Stefano Bardini, his vision continues to shape this exquisite attraction.  The Fontana del Drago, on the top of the garden, features an Anglo-Chinese garden with an unusual canal along one side. It feels intimate, exclusive and less crowded than the famous Boboli Garden. Bardini’s gorgeous green setting on the side of the hill in the Oltrarno, stirs your spirit as you walk up, and you see the city unfold before your eyes. Villa Bardini is close to the Boboli garden and can be visited on the same ticket.

Unravelog Tip:  Plan a date at the Michelin-starred garden restaurant, La Leggenda dei Frati, inside the Villa Bardini, one of the most romantic spots in Florence to dine at.

Timings: The garden is open from November to February: 8.15 – 16.30; March: 8.15 – 17.30; April, May, September, October: 8.15 – 18.30; June, July, August: 8.15 – 19.30. It is closed on the first and last Monday of each month and has free entry on the first Sunday of every month!

Chianti, Prosecco and the taste of romance

Toast your love as you dream of a future together…create your own bespoke wine tours or join a daily coach tour through some of Italy’s famous and favourite regions in Tuscany – Umbria, Sicily, Puglia, and Piedmont and more! Spend an hour or a whole day in the countryside, wallowing in the romance of vineyards and the taste of Chianti or bubbly Prosecco. Grape Tours offers some amazing tours for couples to sample some of the best wines in the Tuscan area. DiVine Tours offers a series of bespoke wine tours – very organized and very easy to understand and you can customise your trip exactly the way you want it.

Unravelog Tip: An hour from Florence is Querceto di Castellina – their amazing vineyard view can inspire a stunning impromptu proposal!

Belmond Villa St. Michele is special to lovers

If you aren’t already in love, this 15th century luxury villa with a façade designed by Michelangelo, is cupid’s lucky den.  It’s called the Lover’s Corner – a secluded place in an atmospheric restaurant with a garden and breathtaking views of Florence below.  All you have to do is request a table to allow the romance and proposals to happen just naturally. Quite the popular place, even today’s Florentines find it perfect to heighten the love and pop the question, along with a bottle of bubbly or two, at the bar.

Unravelog Tip: Prefer picnics over fancy dinners? Organize a picnic under the warm Tuscan sun in the Lover’s Corner and enjoy champagne and sandwiches.

Celebrate love like Dante and Beatrice at Santa Margherita dei Cechi

Follow a tradition, so to speak and visit this church, where the great poet Dante met his muse Beatrice, for the first time and fell in love with her.  Their unusual love story (though platonic) is a mystical celebration. Lowlights and soft music adds an intimate feel to the place.  Though the church dates back to 1032, there are modern-era paintings dedicated to Dante and Beatrice. There are baskets full of paper next to the tomb of Beatrice, with messages for the heroine of Dante’s Divine Comedy, testifying to their everlasting love. Santa Margherita dei Cerchi is located in one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Florence. The church doesn’t charge a fee and is open from 8 am to 12:30 pm and from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Unravelog Tip: Bring some flower offerings to make a wish here, along with your partner!

The art of romance at Piazza della Signoria

Bask in the romantic atmosphere of this Florentine square with its stunning ancient buildings at nightfall, when the crowds have dissipated. Rich with history, a walk through evokes the original splendour of earlier times of the Renaissance – and it is impossible to not be moved by the grandeur, walking through the Piazza.  Lovers of art and poetry, will find the whole stroll around Florence enchanting, with Dante’s House museum close by, and Galleria degli Uffizi, Uffizi Gallery, Italy’s unmissable art museum too. Designed by Giorgio Vasari it includes masterpieces by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, and many others. How could you not want to steal a kiss in this amazing setting! 

Unravelog Tip: If you wish to visit the Uffizi Gallery buy tickets online and avoid the long queues to save yourself hours waiting to get in.

Surprise your partner at Piazzale Michelangelo

Add this to your not-to-be-missed romantic experiences! The city view from the steps of Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset, is reached by climbing up the flight of stairs from Piazza Giuseppe Poggi, (Poggi’s Ramp). Enjoy the mesmerizing views across the Arno and over the city, just like the full-sized bronze replica of Michelangelo’s David, standing and looking across from the centre of the square.  Grab a moment to yourselves, in the beautiful rose garden and around mini market stalls while sharing the view.  A stroll for 10 minutes can get you to the San Miniato al Monte Abbey made of rare white and green marble.  Scented candles and herbal products make great souvenirs at the abbey’s gift shop, where they allow you inside to make a donation.  Let the romance linger well after you return!

Unravelog Tip: Heighten the experience and visit Piazzale Michelangelo in April, May, and September when art and music festivals take place. Yes, it’s peak time, and hotel prices tend to sky-rocket, so look out for a bargain and book ahead.

This charming, historical destination, the birthplace of the Renaissance, has many more facets that will delight any travel enthusiast. If you are looking to explore the city with more time in hand, check out our detailed itinerary that unravels Florence in 4 days.