The Romantic Night in the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy

The Romantic Night in the Chianti village

Every year, coinciding with the summer solstice, the Most Beautiful Villages of Italy network lights up for The Romantic Night, a national event dedicated to love and the allure of the peninsula's historic hamlets. Among the over two hundred participating locations is San Donato in Poggio, a stunning medieval district in the municipality of Barberino Tavarnelle, in the province of Florence, in the heart of the Tuscan Chianti.

The local edition, reaching its third year in 2026, is organized by the Pro Loco San Donato in Poggio APS in collaboration with the "Most Beautiful Villages of Italy" Association. For the first time, the event expands to two full days packed with music, fine food, storytelling, and astronomy.

The Tour of Love across seven heart-themed stops

The heart of the festival is the Tour of Love, a guided itinerary through the village designed to experience San Donato in Poggio through emotions, picturesque views, and narratives. Accompanied by storyteller Fabio Poggi, couples and visitors traverse the seven heart-themed stops scattered throughout the alleys: the Torrino Wall, the Garden of Love, the Bench of Silence, and other symbolic corners, leading up to the central Piazza Malaspina.

Music, apericena, and stars

The evenings are accompanied by live music: the first day features the "I Magici Violini" group, while the second is dedicated to the notes of DUO E25 and the MiLa DUO SwingSet. The experience is enriched by the Lovers' Apericena at CapyBar, a historic meeting point for the event.

Among the most beloved experiences is the astronomical observation, organized in collaboration with the Chianti Multifunctional Observatory: astrophysicists guide the public in discovering the summer starry sky, offering a poetic glimpse of the universe that perfectly complements the romantic spirit of the event.

• Guided Tour of Love along the seven heart-themed stops
• Live music featuring violins, swing, and acoustic duos
• Lovers' Apericena at CapyBar
• Astronomical observation with the Chianti Observatory
• Artisan market along the village streets

A village to discover

San Donato in Poggio preserves its medieval layout intact, with its Romanesque parish church, ancient walls, and intimate squares that provide the ideal backdrop for an event dedicated to love. The Romantic Night is the perfect opportunity to discover this corner of the Florentine Chianti in an intimate and evocative setting, far from the main tourist flows, immersed in the tradition and hospitality typical of Tuscany.