Terni, Italy: The birthplace of Saint Valentine
TERNI: UMBRIA, ITALY
Terni is the second biggest town in the region of Umbria, the so-called green heart of Italy, and it is located in a basin within the Appenine mountains.
Where is Terni in Italy?
Terni has been in news recently for wanting to have a partner city in the USA.
“It’s economy mostly revolves around its steelwork industry, now owned by Thyssenkrupp, a German group. Back in time, the weapon industry was flourishing in the region, which is why it was bombed in World War 2 by the Americans. Most of my peers’ grandparents have their own story of ‘That day the bomb fell and I somehow survived’, so most of the town was rebuilt after the war.
Also, not-so-fun trivia: The gun that was used to kill Kennedy was made in Terni.”
WHAT TO DO IN TERNI, ITALY
If you ever happen to be in Terni, you MUST visit the Marmore falls, one of the tallest artificial waterfalls in the world, made by the Romans by the order of the Roman Consul Manius Curius Dentatus, to get rid of the swamps in the area. It is even possible to do some canoeing next to the falls. Wouldn’t that be exciting?
The beautiful Marmore Falls in Terni. Picture by tjshot on Flickr
Terni is full of Roman ruins. The most famous one is the Carsulae site, an ancient Roman town that (probably) got destroyed by an earthquake. There are still excavations going on right now.
The roman ruins of Carsulae
There are a lot of rural villages in the area, some of which are amongst the most beautiful villages in Italy. Check out some details here.
Here are some activities to try out in the province of Terni or in the region of Umbria:
WHAT HAPPENS ON VALENTINE’S DAY IN TERNI
Regarding Saint Valentine celebrations, there is an annual procession that starts from the small church of Saint Valentine and ends at the main cathedral of Terni (and back of course), where the Bishop celebrates a special mass.
There’s another special mass on the 14th itself, in the saint’s church. During the day, a small fair is held right outside of the church with stands and street food, which ends with some fireworks.
Other than that during the week, there’s an event called Cioccolentino with a cycle of chocolate and love themed events.
There also used to be a yearly organized flash mob in one of the main squares, a collective kiss, where couples used to get together.
So, if you are visiting Italy and would like to visit a quaint, offbeat region with an interesting history and scenic beauty, perhaps give Umbria a chance!
Plan your Italy trip
Here are some more posts about Italy:
Beautiful Italian destinations
Exploring Venice beyond Gondolas
What I wish I knew before moving to Italy
Stay curious and keep exploring more.
Save on Pinterest and find this post easily next time!
Discover more from Europe Diaries
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Katja | placesandnotes
Oh wow I didn´t know this, it looks like a wonderful place too! DEfinitely putting it on the list for my next Italy trip, thanks for sharing 🙂
Nina
I love Italy but haven’t been to Terni yet! Sounds amazing
Marika
Terni looks absolutely beautiful! I would love to visit one day.