Valentine's Day, you know, is the holiday of the lovers. Boyfriends, friends and those who feel for their special someone this tender and deep feeling, find in this anniversary, which falls on the day February 14, an excuse to celebrate one's Love and spend a day of sweetness and romance. Naples is the perfect city to celebrate Love: in any way and under any conditions, it offers the best possibilities to make this day truly unique. 

A Feb. 14 full of sweetness in a special city

Whether it is a beautiful sunny day or a day enlivened by a cathartic drizzle, Valentine's Day is for everyone the day of the lovers. It is said that one's time is the most precious thing to give to those we love, so gift or not, this day is made to be with one's "better half." There are many things one can do in the Neapolitan city to make this day even more special, and below we will list a few suggestions that can serve as inspiration for creating and spending the perfect day to share with one's partners. 

Visit the most beautiful places in the city of Naples with those you love 

For those who have the ability to travel by their own means of transportation, many are the romantic places of the city of Naples from which you can choose to spend a special day. First of all, there is the beautiful Capodimonte Park. With its tree-lined avenues and meadows, silence and wooded atmosphere, it is the ideal place to stroll while chatting with your soul mate. Hand in hand and in the silent verdant background, you can enjoy together with your partner magical moments surrounded by nature and the sweetness of your couple. 

Not far from this Real Bosco on Capodimonte Hill, there is also the small and quaint Poggio Park. This delightful urban park holds one of the most beautiful vantage points in the Neapolitan city. A photo together and a kiss will seal a very special Valentine's Day morning.

The most romantic staircases in Naples

Valentine's Day is the perfect day to spend hand in hand with your partner, to walk fascinating scenic routes and be enchanted by wonderful views. Le Princess Jolanda Stairs in Capodimonte, the Pedamentina of Naples and the 13 Ramps at Posillipo are three wonderful opportunities available in the city to experience this together.

Princess Jolanda's Stairs are part of a route that connects the historic center to the Royal Palace of Capodimonte: climbing the monumental staircase, surrounded by a grove with ancient trees, you will encounter an elliptical square, the so-called round, and there will be no shortage of pleasant surprises along the way. On viewpoint with a view of Saint Teresa and Isle of Capri, in fact, the sign “Kiss Please", which suggests that all lovers passing by should treat themselves to a sweet moment with a kiss.

The Pedamentina, on the other hand, is the oldest urban masterpiece in Naples, dating back to the 14th century and consisting of 414 steps. The stairs hold ancient legends and mysteries, and between descents and steps you will reach the historic center starting from the Charterhouse of San Martino, passing through the Vomero and Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Despite the length, you will not regret taking this route: you will be accompanied by spectacular views of the Gulf and by splendid gardens and vegetable gardens, including the St. Martin's Vineyard.

Sunset is the best time to also visit the famous 13 St. Anthony's Ramps in Posillipo, one of the most romantic places in Naples. These are, indeed, 13 descents, so named for the church of the same name on the site. You can choose to walk the path uphill or follow the descents by car, the important thing is to stop and admire the view that awaits you on the Terrace of Posillipo: the Vesuvius on the horizon looms over the sky like the guardian of Naples, then giving way to Mergellina, to the port and the rest of the city.

Originally created for urban and religious needs, there are over 200 staircases in Naples, and today they are considered among the city's major urban and historical masterpieces.

Valentine's Day on the waterfront in Bacoli

For lovers of the sea not far from Naples there is an unmissable coastline all for you! February in Naples often offers sunny days where the warm rays of the sun seem to "defrost" the spirits during winter. These are the perfect days to take a walk by the sea.

What better place, then, than Miseno Beach with its characteristic Dragonara Cave To be pampered by the warm rays of the sun? A romantic walk on the sand, accompanied by the background of the waves caressing the shoreline and filling the air with the scent of the sea, is a unique experience to be had precisely in winter, when we have grown accustomed to the cold and gloomy colors of the season.

Not far from Miseno, you can arrive in the afternoon at the charming Vanvitellian Casina. The atmosphere that this little lakeside spot offers at sunset is truly an atmospheric sight, and among the romantic places most suitable for couples Of lovers. After evening is over, all that remains is to end on a high note with a romantic dinner on the beautiful Lake Fusaro.  

You can easily reach Bacoli by taking the Cumana from Montesanto station. Getting off at the Fusaro stop, at the station entrance you will find the Casina Vanvitelliana a stone's throw away; getting off at the last stop Torregaveta, on the other hand, you can reach the Miseno coastline by bus. Alternatively, by subway.

Those who love walking bring love to the Old Town

For those who like to walk on foot, however, the historic center of Naples is the most suitable place full of opportunities to celebrate the day of lovers. Just a few steps away from the central Jesus Square is the Church of St. Clare. It will sound like a not-very-adequate proposition if I told you to pay a little visit to its cloister. Yet, believe me, you will not be disappointed by the beauty of the convent's colorful and verdant garden. The artistic majolica tiles and the peace of this cloister, are a very special little place to walk through together with your "better half." Of a different but no lesser beauty, however, is the special Villa Pignatelli.

The two places can be reached on foot with a modest but highly recommended walk among the historic streets of downtown Naples. The street food and shopping in Piazza Dante, Via Toledo, Via Roma, etc., will not disappoint you; in fact, it will make the walk even more pleasant. However, it is recommended to do this in the morning since the Villa closes at 1:00 pm. 

A walk and some well-deserved rest along Via Caracciolo, then leave you spellbound by the beauty of the backdrop. The sea, the rocks, and Vesuvius towering over the entire Bay of Naples will accompany you along the way to the Municipal Villa. Here benches and chalets will be a great proposition for relaxation. Finally, the evening is made for romance and the characteristic Borgo Marinari is among the best romantic places where there are very inviting typical small restaurants near the sea.

What to do if it rains on Valentine's Day! 

If the day is not the best and clouds or rain seem to threaten the success of this special day, never fear! 

L'Naples Aquarium, for example, is a great alternative to shelter from the rain and be fascinated by the marine environment and the animals that are housed in its tanks. In the heart of the Neapolitan historical center, it is possible to visit the splendid Complex of San Lorenzo, which with the Neapolis Buried, is part of the underground itineraries of Naples. Not far away, there is access for the intriguing Underground Naples. This is a network of tunnels and water wells that formed the aqueduct from which water was once drawn for Neapolitan homes. It provided the inspiration for the sympathetic legend of the munaciello.

According to this traditional legend, the munaciello was a spirit that roamed among the houses. Those who could catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of their eyes could vaguely distinguish a red or black dress. Legend has it, in fact, that the munaciello could be benevolent or malevolent. The one dressed in black was mischievous and often played naughty tricks in the homes of Neapolitan families; when dressed in red, however, he brought gifts and good fortune to the inhabitants of the house.

The legend of the munaciello, in truth, seems to have several origins. One of these is based on a probable association between the figure of the munaciello and that of the aqueduct attendant (vulgarly called "aquaiolo"). The latter had access to houses by way of water supply shafts, and it was not difficult for trysts to arise between them and Neapolitan women. In such a case the water-maker would leave gifts in the house and the women, to explain the surprise, would give credit to the munaciello. Obviously we are talking about other times, about stories and legends told and of which we do not know how much is true or not.

So, if remembering this story you impersonated yourself a little too much in the telling and got that slight anxiety given by jealousy for your partners, well, you could take advantage of one of the many hotels in downtown Naples that offer spa and dinner to soak in your couple's sweet tooth.  

Love that costs nothing, a walk in Naples without charge

Finally, for the younger ones, or for those who want to spend this day without necessarily incurring special expenses, there are also completely free and equally attractive proposals. First of all, we recommend that you start the day by taking a detour to the scenic Vergilian Park. This park, is located very close to the Mergellina Station, so not only is it very easy to reach, but it is also located in one of the most beautiful places in the city. As you reach the top of its ramps, you will be able to admire a truly stunning view that will make your day start with beauty. A picnic lunch among the rocks of Mergellina will then be a very romantic and original idea.

After lunch, pampering and relaxation then, you could stroll along by the sea, to the Angevin Male which, with the marina at its foot and the small garden surrounded by greenery, will be the perfect crowning glory of a beautiful walk, especially if you decide to rest on one of the seafront benches, perhaps at sunset time.

Need an icebreaker? Here are the origins of the Valentine's Day holiday

The oldest origins of this holiday, are to be found in Roman times. The pagan holiday of the Lupercalia, in fact, was celebrated between days 13, 14 and 15 of the month of February, in honor of Lupercus, or the Faun God who protected livestock from attack by wolves.

However, this festival, which the Romans celebrated in honor of the god Faunus, had archaic origins and even more particular meanings: it was a day to celebrate the cycle between life and death, the rebirth of nature, and the subversion of roles followed by a new establishment of rules. Doing so purified the way and renewed the sense of society. During these days, therefore, archaic fertility rites related to the crudest meaning of sexuality were staged.   

This holiday was later replaced by the more Christian feast of the martyr Saint Valentine of Terni, established by Pope Gelasius in 496 AD. The pope wanted to eliminate any explicit reference to sexuality and tied to this day, the feast in honor of St. Valentine, the patron of romantic love. Over time, therefore, the association between romantic love and lovers prevailed, and this holiday became a celebration of Love.