The celebration of lovers in one of the most beautiful regions of Italy. In this article, we suggest five ideas for Valentine’s Day in Puglia. Naturally, to make this day even more magical, surprise your sweetheart by relying on Soriano Service Ncc. We will take care of accompanying you to your chosen destination with our drivers. A Valentine’s Day to remember.
Vico del Gargano
Saint Valentine is the patron saint of Vico del Gargano, an evocative village located in the heart of the Gargano promontory. From February 14 to 16, the town celebrates to honor its Saint. A symbolic place of love is the “Alley of the Kiss.” It is customary to walk through this narrow street, only 50 cm wide and 30 meters long, together with one’s partner. Given the tight passage, the two lovers walk through the alley brushing against and holding each other, uniting their bodies and souls along the way. At the end of the small street in the historic center, you reach Piazzetta San Valentino, where the “Wishing Well” is located. According to tradition, whoever makes a wish at the well will see it come true.
Castellana Grotte
Among the five ideas for Valentine’s Day in Puglia, we highlight a very unique one. In Castellana Grotte, a town in the province of Bari famous for its underground cave system, there is the possibility of spending Valentine’s Day in an unconventional way. “Innamorati in Grotta” (“Lovers in the Cave”) is an event that will take place from February 12 to 16. Couples will follow a route starting from the Grave and ending in the “Cavern of the Spring.” The walk inside the Caves will take place in the dark, with only torchlight and background music. Once in the Cavern of the Spring, couples can capture the moment and receive a parchment at the end of the love ritual with the reading of promises. In the Grave cave, a toast and a performance dedicated to Romeo and Juliet await the couples to conclude this special experience.
Vieste
Let’s return to the Gargano and head to wonderful Vieste. The legend of Pizzomunno and Cristalda is extremely famous — a timeless love story. The singer Max Gazzè even wrote a song about it, “La leggenda di Cristalda e Pizzomunno.” Pizzomunno was a fisherman from Vieste, in love with his Cristalda, to whom he had sworn eternal fidelity. Every evening, the sirens tried to tempt the handsome fisherman with their enchanting voices, but Pizzomunno never gave in, as his heart beat only for his beloved. One night, annoyed and wounded in their pride by Pizzomunno’s constant refusals, the sirens kidnapped Cristalda and imprisoned her at the bottom of the sea. The fisherman could do nothing to save his beloved, and in his grief, he turned into the stone monolith that rises in front of Vieste. The legend says that every hundred years, on August 15, Cristalda emerges from the depths of the sea and reunites with Pizzomunno, who becomes a man again for just one night. In the historic center of Vieste, there is a staircase dedicated to the two lovers. On the steep steps, the story of the timeless lovers is narrated. An unparalleled location to immortalize your love on Valentine’s Day.
Lecce
In the fantastic baroque city, on Via Marconi, there is the “Fountain of Harmony,” a monument dedicated to lovers. In fact, at the top of the fountain, there are two bronze figures drinking from the same shell — an image that pays tribute to love. Naturally, considering the beauty and the many monuments Lecce offers, the fountain is only a starting point. Lecce is called the “Florence of the South” for the elegance of its historic center. Walking through the Salento capital is an experience to savor, perhaps pairing it with the wide culinary offerings the city provides. Think of the typical dessert: the delicious Pasticciotto. Lecce is a romantic place, and at times it feels like walking through the set of a film. The Roman Amphitheater, Carlo V Castle, the Sedile, and the historic city gates are just some of the architectural beauties couples can admire between one kiss and the next.
Santa Maria di Leuca
We conclude our article on the five ideas for Valentine’s Day in Puglia by staying in Salento, more precisely at its tip (and the tip of Italy): Santa Maria di Leuca. A place famous for summer tourism, it proves to be an excellent destination for February 14, the day dedicated to love. Indeed, a fascinating legend surrounds the history of this Salento town. The two promontories “Punta Ristola” and “Punta Meliso” were actually a pair of young lovers: Aristula and Melisso. The two lovers were turned into rock by a mermaid named Leucasia. Overflowing with jealousy and resentment after being rejected by Melisso, she caused a storm that made the couple fall into the sea, leading to their death. Not satisfied, she decided to separate their bodies, dragging them to opposite sides of the bay. However, faced with such cruelty, Minerva intervened and decided to make them immortal, transforming them into Punta Ristola and Punta Meliso. Where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet, the souls of Melisso and Aristula embrace for eternity.