You may think it’s a silly thing, but I simply cannot resist visiting those places with a romantic story. Maybe because I am a romantic myself and I believe in love (is it possible to live the power of love if you don’t believe in it?). Well, all that introduction to say that there is a special location in Tuscany for sentimental people like me and it’s called Lucignano.
The golden tree
Lucignano is romantic place itself. Imagine walking in a medieval walled hill-top village, with a ellipse form, old houses, narrow streets and astonishing panorama. Sounds good, right? The best part is yet to come.
Inside a building of the XIII-XIV Century, the “Palazzo Comunale”, there is this museum called Museo Comunale di Lucignano. Take a look at everything, but please don’t miss Sala IV, where you will discover this special Golden Tree. Why special?
It took more than 120 years to complete this magnificent 2,60 meters (8.5 feet) golden tree. It was created with a religious meaning – remember that it was medieval times! – but somehow people start to believe that the tree had some magic power to make love last. Lovers used to go there to do their promises of fidelity while singles, after a long period of suffering and misfortune, prayed for a change in their situation.
Lucignano distance only 26 km from Arezzo, 50 km fro Siena or 100km from Florence.
For further information about Lucignano, visit the official website here.
Where the Streets have a lovely name
What about visiting a city where the streets are named with words like “love”, “kiss” and “good luck”? I am talking about Pienza, a city that most guidebooks describe as the birthplace of Pope Pius II and also UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. Wow, ha? I love tradition and history but in this very moment I am interested in the romantic point of view! 
So get your partner and walk around Via dell’Amore, Via del Bacio… I also suggest that you have lunch or dinner there: you can eat well almost at any trattoria of Pienza and food is delicious. I bet this will be your favorite Renaissance town!
Pienza offers so many charming stores where you can buy leather handicraft, bijoux, soaps and… pecorino, an Italian cheese made from ewes’ milk. My favorite is Pecorino with truffles. Yummy!
Itinerary on the map
While driving from Lucignano to Pienza you may find a San Valentino’s traffic sign with a bicycle/walking/running itinerary (picture).
If you are in the mood for shopping you could also try the Valdichiana Outlet Village – not far away from Pienza or Lucignano – where you find brands like Just Cavalli, Conte of Florence, Sasch Firenze and others for excellent price.
If it’s February, during the weekends you could have fun with the oldest carnival of Tuscany (read this post).
You could also include a visit to some winery as you are exactly where Chianti wine is produced.
Click here to check directions and map.
My experience
The love route could be the perfect idea for Valentine’s day (February 14th) although it’s still winter in Tuscany and most shops, restaurants and hotels are closed. I went there in the end of January and there was a mix of cloudy morning and sunny afternoon, temperature was around 5°C (41F) and it was a good excuse to be closer to my loved one (and drink some Chianti wine! )
