Valentine’s Day is synonymous with love and Italians are arguably the most romantic people in the world. Known in Italy as La Festa degli Innamorati, or La Festa di San Valentino, Valentine’s Day is celebrated between lovers and sweethearts across the Belpaese.

Valentine’s Day has its roots in ancient Roman times with the pagan festival Lupercalia, which involved days of wild feasts to celebrate fertility. The day then became associated with St Valentine, whose feast day is celebrated on February 14. St Valentine was a bishop from Terni, in the central Italian region of Umbria, and he is the patron saint of his birthplace.