St. Valentines Day, the annual Festival for Lovers, is one of the best known celebrations in the western world, but how many people know that St. Valentine was an early Christian martyr and that his tomb can still be visited here in Italy?
One of the worlds favourite saints lies in a crystal coffin under the altar of the church that bears his name in Terni, Umbria. The saint was the towns first bishop and he met his death during the Christian persecutions of 273 AD. There are several romantic legends attached to his name, but he seems to have become the patron of lovers largely by accident. His feast day fell on what was considered the first day of spring and, hence, the commencement of the mating season. The custom of exchanging love tokens on the 14 th February is believed to have started in the Middle Ages and the hitherto little known martyr was transformed into a red-letter day saint.
The Basilica of St. Valentine is on the outskirts of Terni, a town that is mainly known for its steel works (many now closed down) and a popular type of unsalted bread. The original church was erected over the saints burial place in the 4 th century, but it has been rebuilt many times and the present building is a rather dull-looking baroque edifice dating from 1618. Inside, there is little of note, apart from the saints tomb.
Most of the year, there are few visitors but on the 14 th hundreds of couples from all over the world will flock to the narrow, cypress-lined square in front of the church for the customary blessing. Married couples some celebrating their Golden Wedding will jostle with newly weds and hand-holding teenagers, all hoping for the miracle formula that will make their love last forever.
