The birthplace of Saint Valentine, Terni is celebrated as the “City of Lovers”. Located 104 kilometres northeast of Rome, the city still retains relics from its early Roman history, along with churches and cathedrals from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. In recent centuries Terni has become an industrial city, creating an intriguing clash of styles between old-world charm and contemporary design.

Saint Valentine became a bishop in Terni, and his remains are preserved in the San Valentino Basilica, the city's most popular tourist attraction. Other historical landmarks include the chapel of the Church of St. Francis, the Church of St. Salvatore, and the baroque Terni Cathedral. Memories of a more distant history are found at the Roman amphitheatre, which lays in ruins but evokes the scale of its 10,000-capacity design. All these sights are located in the old part of the city, which is the primary visitor focus. Industrial sites are dotted across the outskirts. Just beyond the city boundary are Cascate delle Marmore, 165-metre-high waterfalls that gush between forested canyon walls. They look natural but were built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago.

It takes just over an hour to travel between Rome and Terni by train, with direct services departing from Rome-Termini station. Perugia is the closest airport although there are far more flights landing at Rome Ciampino and Rome Fiumicino.

Saint Valentine became a martyr during the Rome persecutions in AD270 when he died on February 14th. He was mostly anonymous on the Christian calendar until his identity was revived as a day for celebrating romance and devotion.