Valentine’s Day is about celebrating your love and appreciation for a loved one in your life. Many spend the special day by sitting candlelight for a romantic dinner, buying meaningful gifts and indulging in delicious chocolates with their special someone.
In Italy, there are countless romantic destinations to explore such as charming Verona and majestic Lake Como. Although it’s not known to be the city of lovers, Naples happens to be one of Italy’s unassuming cities of romance. It’s chaotic, gritty, authentic, and beautiful all at once. Here is a short list of how you can enjoy the romantic passion of Naples on your Valentine’s Day:
Vicolo dell’Amore, The Alley of Love
Nestled on a winding street of the Quartieri Spagnoli, one of the most famous neighborhoods of Naples, is Vico Santa Maria delle Grazie a Toledo otherwise known as, Vicolo dell’Amore. Called the alley of love, the small street is decorated with messages written in Italian, some in rhyme, others about love or passions, South of Italy. While some may think it’s extremely cheesy, it’s a free way to say “I love you” to your partner while strolling through the streets of Naples.
Neapolitan Love Songs
For the hopeless romantic, serenade your loved one with two romantic Neapolitan love songs. Each song is a world apart and tells a story about the city, its people, or a moment in history. A serenade is a traditional Neapolitan way to say “I love you”. The night before a wedding in Naples, it’s customary for the groom to sing to his bride to bring good fortune to their marriage.
Superstitious or not, sing these two popular Neapolitan love songs to your partner:
O’ Sole Mio
Written in 1898, this song has gone on to be one of the most famous Italian songs in the world. Neapolitan journalist, Giovanni Capurro, wrote this song for Donna Nina Arcoleo and Eduardo di Capua composed the music. Capua’s inspiration for the timeless song was the sun or the sunshine while gazing at the Black Sea.
‘O Surdato ‘Nammurato
AJ Forrisi
Assistant Editor for America Domani, AJ Forrisi is a Brooklyn-based writer and photographer. His work focuses on food, travel, sports, landscapes, and urban scenes. You can find him on Instagram @aj.photo.works.