Romantic Rome was the site of the martyrdom of Saint Valentine. This enigmatic saint, whose remains rest in a Basilica dedicated to him, in his home province of Terni, is shrouded in history - no one seems able to agree on exactly who he was, how he died or why.

One legend tells how, persecuted by Claudius, he was cast in jail and condemned to death, where the soon-to-be-martyr fell in love with the blind daughter of the jailor Asterius and his faith miraculously restored her sight. Just before his execution he allegedly wrote and sent her a letter, signed 'your Valentine'. If true, this sheds some unexpected light on the present-day custom of sending Valentine cards.

This Christian celebration, instituted in Rome around the fifth century AD, has a long and complex prehistory. Perhaps the most ancient trail leads back to the Roman celebration of Lupercalia, an annual ritual performed from about 400 BC in the name of the god Lupercus, literally to keep the wolves (lupi) at bay. Priests of this cult, luperci would travel to the lupercal, the cave where the she-wolf who reared Romulus and Remus allegedly lived, and sacrifice animals (two goats and a dog). The blood would then be scattered in the streets, to bring fertility and keep the wolves away from the fields.

Today, the festival is celebrated all over the world, but the beautiful and scenic city where it originated is far from the worst place imaginable to go for a romantic day (and night) out: for some ideas as to where to take your lovebird, check out the Whatsonwhen guide to Rome.

So there you have it. Go easy on the chocolate, don't do anything too foolish, and enjoy!