Terni a romantic city on a human scale

Crossed by the River Nera, Terni is a small town with many green areas, making it a perfect place for those in search of peace and tranquillity.

Today, the city of Terni tends to be modern and dynamic in the eyes of the visitor; this is because, following the bombings during World War II, the town underwent numerous renovations.

Today, however, we can appreciate the city's historical centre, within which monuments and buildings can be visited, such as the Church of San Francesco and the Duomo.

Also called the 'City of the Lovers', Terni's patron saint is Saint Valentine, celebrated on 14 February, to whom a Basilica was dedicated, in which the saint's body is now preserved.

Thanks to its location, Terni is an interesting starting point for trips and excursions to the surrounding areas, including the Marmore Falls.

Valentine's Day: in Terni to celebrate in a special way

St Valentine, the patron saint of all lovers, was not only the bishop of Terni but also a priest much loved by his fellow citizens and especially by the younger generation.

This great fame of his, which went far beyond the city limits, was due to a custom that was particularly popular with the girls of the time, but at the same time was disliked, to put it mildly, by the central government in Rome.

At the end of each wedding ceremony celebrated in the church, in fact, the future Saint with a very romantic gesture gave a rose to young couples.

Needless to admit that a gesture so whimsical for the time of the facts, drew the attention of many engaged couples who often left for the Umbrian city with the hope of being married by the bishop of Terni.

Among these there was also a young legionary who first was baptized and later married a Christian girl, and at the end of the ceremony, as usual, the couple received the famous rose as a gift.

The news reached the Roman governor who considered it an unforgivable outrage to be punished in a peremptory way. Bishop Valentine was thus arrested, but the sentence was not enough to appease the anger of the governor who wanted to impose an exemplary punishment.

The earthly legend of Valentine thus ended on February 14, 270, when he was publicly beheaded along the Via Flaminia, and from that day he became the patron saint of lovers.

In the following centuries, however, young couples continued to go to Terni to renew their promise of love in the basilica where the remains of St. Valentine are preserved.

The number of couples who practiced this custom was so high that the religious authorities officially established the manifestation of Valentine's Day in Terni, which is a considerable success even today.

On February 14 of each year, in fact, the feast of the promise is celebrated in Terni, a solemn day in which the bishop of the city receives in the Cathedral the couples who have planned the wedding in religious form in the current year and asks them to exchange the promise of eternal love in front of the urn of Valentine's Day.

The event is intended for couples from all over the world and in case of interest we recommend booking well in advance.

Around Terni, between Nature and medieval villages

About 6 km from Terni we find the Marmore Falls, a tourist destination as well as a fixed stop almost obligatory if we are near the city.

Immersed in a truly suggestive scenery, the waterfall is the highest in Europe, with a total jump of 165 meters.

Located in the Nera River Park, the waterfall dates to 271 BC by the Romans; Here you can practice sports such as canoeing and rafting or take one of the many paths to admire the waterfall from different points of view.

At about 13 km we find Piediluco, a village of medieval origin. The town's name refers to the particular position of the village, in the thin strip of land between the lake and the mountain.

The lake takes its name from the town and is surrounded by wooded reliefs, including Mount Caperno, also called "echo mountain".

Behind the village stands the fortress and in the village we find the Church of San Francesco.

The particular climatic conditions make Lake Piediluco the seat of the National Rowing Center; here every year there is the "Water Festival", during which you can watch a night parade of boats, with lights and fireworks.

The Cantamaggio ternano is the most important event in the city of Terni; An opportunity to celebrate the arrival of spring and, in a sense, to ingratiate the gods for rich summer harvests.

For information you can visit the website: Terni - All information and curiosities