On the map of the romantic places on the planet, Ireland can boast, in full capacity, a prominent place and Dublin is therefore the ideal destination for a romantic getaway of love in Valentine's Day.
The reason is soon said: far from Umbria, the land born of Valentine's Day, the Irish capital preserves some relics of the patron saint of lovers, who died in Rome on 14 February 269, which make it a place of pilgrimage unreliable for all lovers, as well as for many Irish.
Every year, from the early hours of the morning of February 14, young people and less young people, lovers and lonely hearts in search of the soul mate crowd the church of Whitefriar, a place outside the usual tourist circuits, where the relics of the saint are kept.
After the tribute to Valentine’s Day, the romantic itinerary to discover the city can continue with a visit to a museum, a bit of shopping to seize the latest balances and new spring proposals from Brown Thomas, Avoca Handweavers, Kilkenny Shop, Powerscourt Town House, a stop to give yourself a good book of poetry from Hodges Figgis, or a floral bouquet from Molly Blooms.
Finally, a afternoon tea in the enveloping rooms of Merrion Hotelwww.merrionhotel.com), luxurious "Country house" of the city, which besides a refined Spa and the refreshment of Patrick Guilbauld (2 Michelin stars) houses one of the most important art collections of the 19th and 20th century. While for a tete-à-tete you can bet on a room with an informal atmosphere and accomplice like the Winding Stair, old loft on the first floor of a Georgian house along the Liffey (www.winding-stair.com)
For the night, in the center there are comfortable hotels at reasonable prices, in the name of a fair balance quality/price, like the Blooms Hotel or the Harcourt Hotel.
If you want to celebrate your Valentine's Day in great style (and without paying attention to expenses) south of the capital, in Enniskerry in County Wicklow, the "garden of Ireland", are perfect atmospheres of Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt (www.ritzcarlton.com/powerscourt), a Palladian-style hotel recently awarded by the Gayot.com travel site (www.gayot.com) as the most romantic destination in Ireland.
Here couples looking for a special place to celebrate an event can reserve The Suite With No Number, with a heated terrace overlooking the Sugar Loaf Mountain, where you are greeted with cocktails, candles, massages and background music....all in the name of privacy and harmony.
Another note for a Valentine's Day movie is that ofAshford Castle Cong, County Mayo. The castle, dating back to the 14th century, surrounded by Lake Corrib and a carpet of golf courses, has been set of the love story between John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in "A quiet man" by the legendary John Ford, masterpiece of the 1950s. In more recent times he welcomed the sumptuous wedding feast on the occasion of Pierce Brosnan's last "yes", formerly charming 007.
More affordable solutions are suggested by Blue Book, association that proposes an intense "collection" of small charming hotels, country houses, private castles and restaurants renowned throughout the island, many of which are awarded prestigious national and international awards. Between these Gregans Castle Hotel by Ballvaughan, in the picturesque County of Clare.
