Padlocks on the Ponte Milivio: Symbol of True Love, or Public Nuisance?

by Willy Volk on

Every week, teenage couples from all over Italy travel to Rome’s oldest bridge — Ponte Milvio — write their names on a padlock, clip it to a chain wrapped around the bridge’s lampposts, and throw the keys into the Tiber. This fad has become so popular, in fact, that it has been immortalized in I Want You, a romantic novel that’s just been made into a film.

Some politicians are demanding the locks be removed. Not only are the lampposts cluttered, but they fear the release of the film will mean even more padlocks will appear. One politician, Massimo Denaro, is suggesting that a new structure be built next to the bridge to hold all the padlocks. Hilariously, Denaro’s opponents are accusing him of being “anti-romance.”

It isn’t just the politicians, though, who are harshing on love. Last week, some of the chains and padlocks were found smashed on the ground. Only a few remained at the top of one of the lampposts, which led police to assert that the person(s) responsible must have either been “very short” or “afraid of climbing on the balustrade to get all the chains.”

[Via Archaeology in Europe; Photo: Mjilla]

Couple Hugs…for 5000 Years

by Willy Volk on

Archaeologists in Italy recently discovered a couple buried between 5000 and 6000 years ago. Nothing special with that announcement, of course. However, this couple appears to have been buried hugging each other. According to Elena Menotti, who led the team on the dig, “I’ve never been so moved, because this is the discovery of something special.”

Although I’m betting that you can’t visit the actual dig site, you can visit Montova — the city near the site — which no doubt inspired the eternal embrace. Located in northern Italy, Montova is surrounded on three sides by the Mincio River. Picturesque and filled with culture, Montova also hosts the world-renowned Festivaletteratura, which offers five days of readings, meetings with writers, shows, and concerts. If you head to Montova, let us know if it inspires you to hug!

Off the Beaten Path: Making Out in Italy

by Iva Skoch on

Those 30-year-old Italian bachelors who still live with their parents–and hence lack the indoor space to make out–are saved. The town of Bari, Italy, opened a park where couples can have sex freely (but not for free). All they have to do is pay a $4 admission and $2 for every half hour they stay.

It’s not unusual for Italians to live with their parents until they are in their late twenties, even thirties. In fact, this study says that 8 out of 10 Italian men aged between 18 and 30 live with their folks.

My friend who lives in Spain says that many Spanish young adults do the same thing because they a) cannot afford to rent/buy their own place and b) don’t want to give up mom’s cooking. Many of them use their cars for romantic escapades since they can’t really bring their girlfriends home. Apparently, visiting parking lots after 10pm can be pretty entertaining…

Skiing Three Countries in One Day

by Iva Skoch on

Should you ever feel the need to impress your friends with the number of places you have skied in your life (and not go bankrupt as a result of it) head over to Slovenia. If you settle in the town of Bovec, home of Kanin, the highest ski center in the Slovenian Alps, you can venture out to nearby ski resorts in the neighboring countries: Sella Nevea and Tarvisio in Italy, and at the Arnoldstein in Austria. If you get the 7-day pass, you get two free coupons for skiing in Italy and Austria. The altitude stretches above 2000 meters (6000 feet) and a day pass will set you back less than $20.

Of course, you can ski three countries in one day in Chamonix if you are lucky, too, but it is a lot more expensive (closer to $50/day) and a lot more pretentious.

Miss Sixty Hotel

by Adrienne Wilson on


With each day, the older I get, I notice my travel tastes gradually changing. I’ve always been a fan of budget accommodation and scoring the best deal for my pockets, but at the same time a hint of luxury wouldn’t hurt on occasion. As I’d flip through guidebooks often listing the world’s best hotels with a hefty price attached, I’d think “who pays this?” You know, like get out of your room and go see the city, but I’m learning that the room and the entire facility is what they’ve paid to experience. Anyhow, I’m babbling now.

What I want to point out is this awesome hotel pad as found over at TheCoolHunter. Here’s the scoop – the same funky Italian fashion designers who created denim pants that you can wear and look super hot in while strolling through Milan, have gone into the hotel biz by opening the Miss Sixty Hotel. So? Well, from what I’ve seen it looks pretty happening. 30 individual artists all had their hands in the various room design and overall it looks, feels and probably even has the taste of a 70’s vintage boutique. The room pictured up top is one of my personal fav’s or perhaps it just stood out with all the eerie vibes out this month for Halloween. Even if someone was murdered in the room, I’d stay there in a heartbeat.

Miss Sixty Hotel is located in the Italian seaside town of Riccione. With a location like that I say save your money for both the stay at this hot hotel and tack on a couple of extra days to get out and check out the town. Um, I call it – the best of both worlds.