Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse for a romantic short break away with a loved one. Take a look at our top romantic destinations across Italy!
Let’s start with our top 3 – Lecce, Venice and Siracusa are well suited to travellers who enjoy cultural travel and fantastic regional food.
1. Lecce
Lecce is a compact baroque city in southern Italy, where much of the historic centre can be explored on foot. You’ll really enjoy spending some time meandering its piazzas and narrow streets. Local Puglian cuisine is based on simple, regional ingredients such as durum wheat pasta, vegetables, olive oil, burrata cheese and full-bodied wines. Orecchiette with seasonal greens and savoury pastries are widely available, and meals are informal and unhurried.
Lecce offers a dense concentration of baroque churches and civic buildings, alongside Roman remains. Visit some of the sites and allow time to appreciate the architectural detail and historical context. The city’s location also supports short, well-paced excursions to nearby coastal areas.
Lecce is also well placed for short excursions to both the Adriatic and Ionian coasts, allowing visitors to also enjoy coastal landscapes.
See our trips to Puglia to find out more about visiting the heel of Italy.
Several UK airports including Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted and Manchester travel to Brindisi Salento Airport.
2. Venice
Venice is defined by its lagoon setting and long maritime history. You’ll typically experience the city on foot and by water, combining time at landmarks with quieter neighbourhoods that retain their strong local character.
Food in Venice has an emphasis on seafood, rice and seasonal produce. A common experience is visiting a bacaro to sample cicchetti alongside local wine. With guidance from knowledgeable hosts, visitors are introduced to Venetian food customs and the distinction between traditional dishes and more tourist-focused offerings.
Cultural visits often include churches, galleries and historic buildings to gain an understanding of Venice’s development as a maritime republic. Travelling in smaller groups allows easier movement through the city.
See our holidays in Venice for more travel inspiration.
Look for flights to Venice Marco Polo airport.
3. Siracusa
Siracusa provides insight into Sicilian culture through its historic sites, markets and food traditions. The island of Ortygia is a must on your visit and is easily explored on foot.
Moorish invaders introduced spices such as cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and saffron to the island. The Byzantines, Romans and Greeks also left their mark on both the architecture and the cuisine.
Local cuisine draws on the land and sea, with fresh fish, citrus fruits, vegetables and grains forming the basis of many dishes. Visit the local markets and enjoy simple lunches and evening meals in small restaurants.
Siracusa’s archaeological park, cathedral and waterfront are amongst your likely to-visit list but do remember to take the time to observe daily life whilst in Ortygia.
Have a look at our special interest holidays in Sicily if you’d like a holiday with cooking lessons, pilates or perhaps time for painting or photography!
Sicily can be easily reached from airports including Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh.
… and a bonus fourth location – Florence
A must-see for culture vultures, you can pack more into a short break in Florence than in so many other cities – visit Michelangelo’s famous ‘Davide’ in the Galleria dell’Accademia, marvel at Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’ in the Uffizi, and don’t forget to stop by the beautiful jewellery shops on the Ponte Vecchio.
Any lovers of good food will also be in heaven in Florence – the morning market sells delicious local produce, and don’t forget to sample a classic Bistecca alla Fiorentina during your stay!
Our holidays to Tuscany might provide you with inspiration on Tuscan cuisine and travel opportunities.
Enjoy!
Originally posted Feb 2018, updated with love in 2026.
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