[Lindsay Straub]
Beheaded by emperor claudius ii on February 14th for secretly marrying young couples during the third century, the Roman priest, valentine, was cannonized a Saint - the patron Saint of lovers to be exact. His legend is at the very heart of the romantic holiday celebrated each year around the world. if Saint valentine’s history can be traced back to the third century, then where did cupid, the popular valentine’s Day character, come from? Well, according to Roman mythology, cupid is the god of love and is equated with eros, the Greek god of love and lust. the name cupid is a variation of cupido, or “desire.” Some also referred to cupid as Amor, meaning “love.” His association with valentine’s Day, however, is unrelated to all religions and mythological gods. Cupid is often depicted in current and historical contexts as a child or baby with wings, carrying a bow and quiver full of arrows. As legend has it, his magical arrows are meant to help or make people fall in love. it is said that if cupid’s arrow hits you, you will fall hopelessly and madly in love with the next person you meet. you can chose whether or not to believe in this mythological story, but it sounds to me like a slightly more romantic version of love at first sight…with a little help from the gods! in reality, there probably will not be any flying babies shooting arrows of love on valentine’s Day, although most of us already have a sort of ‘cupid’ in our lives. they are the matchmakers, the middlemen or women, the friends who endlessly introduce us to potential lovers or constantly set us up on blind dates hoping for an instant love to blossom. if, however, cupid decides to travel to Florence what are the best places to shoot his heart-tipped arrows? Here are some of the most romantic places and ideas for valentine’s Day in Florence. take a walk up to Piazzale Michelangelo or a bus to Fiesole, the top of Florence, for a breathtaking view of the city; Piazza Republica has a carousel with beautiful lights and decoration that are best to see at night; the square of Piazza Signoria, home to the Palazzo vecchio, the uffizi and a wide display of fountains and statues, is perfect for an afternoon stroll; have dinner on the Ponte vecchio overlooking the Arno River or admire the landscape and beauty of the Boboli Gardens. there are many places to visit here in Florence, but wherever you chose to go be sure to bring a valentine’s Day favorite: candy, flowers, or jewelry— always a sure bet for your special valentine.


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