Experience a Valentine's Day of inclusion and respect
Do you remember where we were a year ago on Valentine’s Day? We had taken you on a dreamy journey among crenellated towers and drawbridges, discovering the Valentine’s Day among the Castles of the Duchy. We played at feeling like ladies and knights, immersed in atmospheres suspended in time.
But love is not always an ancient fairy tale, and it does not need walls to protect it. Sometimes, love needs open spaces, of noisy squares and a city that tells you, “You’re fine just the way you are.” For 2026, Togoloco changes perspective. Let’s leave the duchy and take you to the beating heart of Emilia-Romagna: Bologna. Here you don’t need blue blood to feel like a king or queen, just freedom in a city that has always been alive and welcoming.
From walls that close to walls that open
If castles served to defend and shut out the world, Bologna is famous for its doors that welcome. And no door is more symbolic than that of the Cassero LGBTIQIA+ Center, established in 1982 within the walls of the monumental Saragozza Gate.
It is no accident that we start here. As you visit this medieval structure, you are walking through the history of Italian civil rights. The Cassero, now housed at the Salara of Via Don Minzoni, was the first public space in Italy dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community. This Valentine’s Day, give yourself a different kind of emotion: that of pride and civil claims. Stop by to check out the cultural programming or just have a drink in the courtyard-you’ll feel the energy of those who have transformed these historic places into a beacon of welcome.
The map of the heart (and party)
Unlike silent country manors, Bologna sounds, laughs and lives. Spending a Valentine’s Day in Bologna means living in a natural “safe zone,” where walking hand in hand under the arcades is the simplest gesture in the world.
If you are looking for a special toast, here are our suggestions for a rainbow tour:
- The intimate aperitif: Look for small venues in Polese Street. You’ll find intimate, curated jewelry where the inclusive and welcoming atmosphere is everyday. Perfect for looking into each other’s eyes without distraction.
- The true soul: dive in and discover Via del Pratello. Here, among historic taverns and wooden tables, you find the Bologna that does not judge. Students, activists, travelers: at Pratello we sit close together and toast to life.
The night off: If your idea of romance is dancing until dawn, the Red Club, the Cassero or the touring evenings of various collectives are a must. Places where music unites and frees bodies from prejudice.
UNESCO arcades: your royal corridor
Who said you need a princely garden to be romantic? Bologna offers you almost 40 km of UNESCO Porticoes. They are the perfect photo set for your album of memories. Imagine climbing toward the Sanctuary of St. Luke at sunset: the city is tinged with red, the hills breathe and you are there, high above, masters of your horizon. It is an urban, concrete romance of warm bricks and real looks.
Why a Valentine's Day in Bologna after the Castles?
Because love is a universal concept. After dreaming of princes and princesses in a castle, it is nice to discover that reality can be even more fascinating. Bologna is the perfect destination for 2026 because:
- It is authentic: no acting, just real life.
- It is inclusive: here every couple, of every gender and orientation, is at home.
- It is accessible: a city that can be reached from all parts of Emilia-Romagna, Italy and the rest of the world, easily explored on foot.
Write your own story (unscripted)
This year we wish you not a fairy tale, but something better: the reality. We invite you to get lost in the alleys, exchange a kiss under the Asinelli Tower or find your own corner of peace on the Hills. There is no set itinerary, because freedom has no maps.
Hold hands with those you love and come to Bologna. And if during your trip you discover a place, a smile or a place that made you feel special, take it into your heart. Safe travels and good love, in all its forms.
