It’s here again, the best day of the year for any romantic like me: Valentine’s Day! A day for casting off all vestiges of the sensible and mundane, and embracing high romance.

If I ask you to close your eyes and imagine the most perfect Valentine’s Day date, what do you see? I see Venice, Italy – setting for my new romance novel, The Echoes of Love. Whenever I visit Venice, I am swept away by the romance of the location. With that in mind, today I’m sharing ten ideas for Valentine’s Day dates inspired by my own experiences in Venice, so that even if you can’t be in ‘the city of love’ today, you can create for yourself the essence of the place:

1. Take a boat ride. Your local boating lake or river may not offer all the romance of a gondola ride, but taking to the water as a couple is an opportunity for alone time. Whether you’re drifting gently and gazing dreamily into each other’s eyes, or laughing uproariously as you attempt to navigate the craft, you’re bound to share a special moment.
2. Admire a view. Venice is a city of stunning historic architecture where eyes are always drawn to the panorama. Take inspiration from the quest of the tourist to find the best spot for a photo to impress those back home – in your local area, seek out The View. Climb a hill. Drive to the seaside. Book a restaurant table by the window. Take a walk at sunset and kiss your sweetheart beneath a sky awash with colour.
3. Go shopping for romantic gifts. No, not to your nearest mall, but to a quaint spot where you can rummage in little independent shops, looking at antiques and bric a brac and artisan-created wares. Set a challenge that each must choose for the other a gift to symbolise the relationship – it’s all the more fun if you set a small budget, forcing you to think imaginatively.
4. Visit an art gallery. Venice is a world-renowned centre of art, and visitors have a wide choice of galleries to explore. Where can you go locally that will similarly transport you and inspire you? If you can, choose a gallery with a café that serves good coffee and cakes!
5. Go to the theatre. Whatever fires you up – a romantic ballet, a stirring opera, a lively musical, a concert by your favourite artist – book tickets and then make an occasion of the event. Have pre-show drinks. Buy a programme to keep as a souvenir. Book a box, if available! Make it a night to remember, and then afterwards, buy the CD of the music so every time you play it you can remember your romantic evening.
6. Sip a Bellini. Did you know that this light cocktail, comprising Prosecco sparkling wine and peach purée, originated in Venice? It was created by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar, which since its opening in 1931 has counted among its patrons Ernest Hemingway, Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Truman Capote, Orson Welles, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Princess Aspasia of Greece,  Peggy Guggenheim and Woody Allen. So head to your nearest cocktail bar and indulge like the rich and famous!
7. Enjoy a leisurely meal. Forget a single course, eaten quickly. Make an occasion of your Valentine’s meal, whether you’re eating at home or in a restaurant. And, of course, choose Italian as the cuisine!
8. Masquerade. Mystique, allure, glamour: masks and costumes are quintessentially romantic! Venice is famous for its unique masks and costumes, which will be out in force from tomorrow onwards in the city as the famous Carnival commences. If no masquerade ball is to be held in your locality, why not introduce a little dressing up at home…
9. Dress to impress. Take a leaf from the Italians’ book and make appearance matter for just this day. Have a pamper – a bath, a manicure. Put on makeup, do your hair, spritz your favourite scent. Choose clothes that make you feel beautiful. Watch your partner’s eyes light up as you arrive at the date!
10. Leave a mark of your love. The picturesque Rialto bridge in Venice is just one of several tourist attractions in Italy at which lovers have left padlocks to symbolise their love. Think beyond obscuring a beautiful location with a metal lock, however. Carve your initials into a tree, or a Chinese paper lantern that you release into the air. Write your love large on a wall in your home, and then paper over it so that a future generation will one day find it. Pen each other a love letter. Do whatever is meaningful for you and will stand the test of time.