A free Web-only article - in honor of love, romance Italian-style!

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From the sensuous sound of water lapping against the walls of Venice's

ancient palazzi to the intoxicating fragrance of citrus blossoms in Sicily,

Italy is a country made for lovers. Author Monica Larner-who has divided

her life between Italy and America since childhood-guides the reader through

Italy's most inspiring destinations, including romantic locales, exclusive hotels,

and tantalizing restaurants in her wonderful new romantic guidebook, In

Love in Italy. Dream of Italy editor Kathy McCabe

recently interviewed Larner.

Dream of Italy: I realize that this may be difficult to

describe or quantify, but what is it that makes Italy so romantic?

Monica Larner: A very big part of what makes Italy so romantic

is that fact that we – as foreigners – and the Italians themselves

recognize it as romantic. It’s a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy in which

we pay extra attention to the romance that the country offers: the fact that

“Rome” spelled backwards is “amor;” the fact that this

was the stomping ground of Saint Valentine and the fact that many of the icons

of romance – from Sophia Loren to Ruldolf Valentino are Italian. Italy

has sex appeal in spades: from fairytale castles to pristine beaches and three

very macho and temperamental volcanoes.

The Italians seem to divide their living space with Cupid. Young women at bars

are often served cappuccini with foam poured in a special way so that is looks

like a heart and conversations about love rank high up there with food and soccer.

And, of course, the link between food and love (symbols of freedom, abandonment

and indulgence) is very strong in Italy. Italy has romancer in its DNA. Think

back to the ancients when Eros and Aphrodite were literally role models for

the people. Fast forward to the modern day and couples like Tom Cruise and Katie

Holmes and all the others who choose Italy as their romantic backdrop, are in

a sense modern day Italian Cupids.

DOI: I know that when I visited the Santavenere

Hotel in Maratea, I exclaimed, “if and when I get married, this is

the place.” I still think it is one of the most romantic spots in Italy

(although Villa Feltrinelli on Lake Garda has recently joined my list.) Did

you have any places that spoke to you like that?

Italy tends to do that. It awards you with what I call romantic epiphany moments:

It’s an overwhelming sensation of perfection and happiness. Journalist

Luigi Barzini described it best in his 1964 book The Italians: “Italians

have mastered the great art of being happy and of making other people happy.”

You could easily replace the word “happy” with “romantic”

and the phrase is just as true.

For me personally, I get a jolt of adrenaline every time I land at the Palermo

airport. I find Sicily

very alluring and attractive and there’s something about making the

transition from the mainland to that drama-driven island with its bright white

sunshine and stoic people that is pure magic to me. There are also moments in

Rome, where I live, when the golden sunlight hits the church domes near Piazza

Venezia that remain vivid in my memory. No matter how many times I see

that beautiful play of afternoon light, the romantic impact is just as strong.

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DOI: What was the biggest surprise you encountered while

writing this book?

ML: There were two surprises. First, I had originally planned

to include pinpoint locations in the book as the “ten most romantic places

to visit.” For example, my plan was to focus just on Stromboli for the

first chapter. But the more I got to know the south over repeat visits, I realized

that I could not just limit myself to Stromboli and the first chapter was expanded

to include all of Sicily. The same happened in all the chapters: Rather than

just doing Alberobello, I included most of Puglia

for chapter two and the list goes on. What surprised me was that there were

so many romantic things to talk about that the book grew far beyond the ten

most romantic places.

I was also surprised repeatedly during the research phase of the book. Alone,

with my little car, I drove up the entire peninsula starting in Palermo and

ending in Bolzano three months later to take photographs and research hotels

and restaurants. The people I encountered along the way were so overjoyed that

someone was writing a book about Romantic Italy that they extended every hospitality

– from keeping me company during dinners to suggesting new venues up the

road. The experience really became a communal one and underlined how important

romance is for Italy and the Italians: my mandate had become theirs. My quest

for romantic places had become a common goal and I got more suggestions and

stories than I would have ever expected.

DOI: Do you have a recommendation or two for the most

romantic restaurants in Italy?

ML: Yes, two.

Ristorante Grotta Palazzese

Via Narciso, 59

Polignano a Mare (Bari)

(39) 080 4240677

www.grottapalazzese.it

Built inside a marine cave, the outdoor dining area straddles a natural bridge

over blue water. You can hear waves licking at the back wall and watch kids

diving off rocks and swimming under your table. With surroundings that would

make any movie location manager weak in the knees, it’s no wonder this

is a favorite location for couples.

Solo Per Due

Via Villa di Orazio, 2

Vacone (Rieti)

(39) 0746 676873

(39) 0746 676951 (to speak in English, evenings only)

www.soloperdue.com

If I were to choose one restaurant in Italy to bring to the attention of lovers,

it would be Solo Per Due. Impossible to find, it claims to be the world’s

smallest restaurant: as its name implies, it is “only for two.”

Open for dinner and lunch, the restaurant consists of a single, candle-lit table

with two settings. Privacy is assured and a silver bell is provided for summoning

the staff. If you reserve for lunch, you can enjoy the garden and peek inside

adjacent Roman ruins. At night, you can order a personalized fireworks display.

DOI: What do you consider the most romantic spots (could

be anything –including a monument) in Rome, Venice and Florence?

ML: Italy is full of romantic spots but if I were to select

just one, it would be the island of Stromboli. In fact, the idea for this book

was born 700 meters in altitude at the very active crater of this tiny Mediterranean

volcano/island. It is romantic for many reasons: This is a desolate, isolated

place perfect for those who want privacy and beautiful swimming opportunities

and of course the “male” symbolism of a volcano that erupts every

15 minutes is definitely part of its appeal.

DOI: If a couple is planning a honeymoon or anniversary

in Italy and they have never been to the country before. Where do you recommend

they go?

ML:First time visitors must see Venice.

It’s obligatory on any romantic itinerary. No other place in the world

is as surreal. This is a city with no horizon or background because the water

mirrors the sky and vice versa. It’s also spooky, damp and infinitely

romantic.

But visitors who have already seen Venice and the major Italian sites might

benefit from a trip in which they immerse themselves in Italian life, like renting

a farmhouse in Tuscany

or touring the Trulli region of Puglia.

DOI: Are Italians the biggest romantics in the world.

If so, how do they incorporate romance into their lives?

ML: I’m not sure about this. They certainly claim to

be the biggest romantics in the world, but this is tutto fumo,

niente arrosto as they say here (“all smoke but nothing on the grill”).

I don’t believe you can say that Italians are more romantic than say the

French, Americans or Russians. (Actually, since so many adults live at home

with mamma you could actually argue that Italians are less romantic). I do think

a distinction must be made: Italians are not the most romantic people on earth

by any stretch, but they are the people who most live within a romantic context/environment.

Romance comes very naturally to them.

DOI: Food and love are so closely tied in Italy. What dishes

do Italians consider to be aphrodisiacs – that might not seem obvious?

ML: Pretty much all of them. The very act of putting a piece

of food in your mouth is aphrodisiacal. The last chapter dedicated to aphrodisiac

foods was definitely the most fun to write and I did learn about dishes that

I had not previously considered romantic. For example, pizza is said to be an

aphrodisiac and there is even a scientific study that explains why (it has to

do with pizza’s appealing aromas and how they trick our brain to think

about things that make us happy, like love). All stimulants like coffee, garlic,

basil and hot pepper are aphrodisiac and all fish/seafood (this comes form the

symbolism of Venus stepping from her half-shell) are high-octane aphrodisiacs.

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