LOVE IS IN THE AIR
Its’s spring, so now’s the time to take your loved one somewhere special. Roger St Pierre jets off to 10 Wizz Air destinations where romance is sure to blossom
Paris
As witness the latest Renault Clio ads, Paris has long
laid claim to being the most romantic city on earth.
What more romantic a view can there be than that
over the famous rooftops of the ‘City of Light’ from
the brilliantly white, exotically styled Sacre Coeur?
You could go even higher and ascend to the top of
the 324m (1,063ft) Eiffel Tower, the tallest building
in the world before the Empire State and then a
rash of others came along. Ironically, this iconic
structure, with its 18,038 metal pieces held together
by two and a half million rivets, was derided as an
eyesore when it opened in 1889. Seal the evening
on the second level with a dinner for two in the
outrageously expensive but exquisite Michelinstarred
Jules Verne restaurant.
Copenhagen
The statue of the Little Mermaid, sitting on her
rock at Langelinie gazing across the waters
opposite Sweden, is a potent symbol of romance
and all its ups and downs. Inspired by a Hans
Christian Andersen fairytale, commissioned by
wealthy brewer Carl Jacobsen and sculpted by
Edvard Erikson, this diminutive figure – just 1.25m
(4ft) tall – was unveiled in 1913. Since then she
has lost her head (twice) and been knocked off
her stone base, drenched in red paint (also twice)
and dressed in a bra – but she is one of the world’s
great survivors, and continues to inspire lovers
who come from around the world to pay homage.
Rome
Three coins in the fountain – then make a wish. It is said that
just one thrown over your shoulder into the Trevi Fountain
as you stand with your back to the gushing waters will
guarantee that you will one day return to the Eternal City.
Standing close to the famed Spanish steps and at the end
of an aqueduct constructed in 19BC, the ornate fountain
was completed in 1762 at the behest of Pope Clement
XII. It depicts Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, riding a
chariot that is shaped like a scallop shell and pulled by two
magnificent white horses.
Milan
Milan may not have quite the romantic lure
of Rome, but it has a vibrancy all its own. Take
a stroll across the Duomo Square, looking
up at the towering spires of the cathedral,
where the pigeons perform death-defying
aerobatic stunts. The city is one of Europe’s
fashion capitals and the streets running off
the square are retail heaven for many, with
names like Dolce & Gabbana and Prada to
the fore. After the credit card’s taken a caning,
head to one (or several) of Milan’s many bars,
restaurants and clubs. For example, try the
Executive Lounge in the Corso Como area,
with its comfortable sofas and Balineseinspired
furnishings. }
Krakow
Claimed to be the largest square in Europe,
Krakow’s medieval marketplace leads into the
atmospheric Kazimierz district. Rebuilt after
World War II, the ambience of the old Jewish
quarter has been restored to its early 20thcentury
glory days here. Dine intimately on
traditional cuisine to the haunting strains of
gypsy music, before strolling the medieval
streets like a modern day Romeo and Juliet.
London
London has one of the world’s greatest skylines. A
wonderful way to appreciate both the ancient and
modern sides of British architecture, with views taking
in everything from Canary Wharf, the ‘Gherkin’ and
St Paul’s to the Houses of Parliament and the far-off
Kentish Weald, is from the grassy slopes of Hampstead
Heath – especially when enjoying a romantic
champagne picnic. The lawns of Kenwood House
were featured in the romantic movie Notting Hill and
host summertime evening open-air classical concerts,
climaxing in dramatic firework displays. Stretching
across 791 acres, the heath’s woodlands and meadows
are among the most popular areas of a city blessed
with a wealth of open spaces.
Stockholm
Stockholm is a city of water, with more than 1,000 often
idyllic islands right on its doorstep. So, for romance, how
about a nautical theme? You could rent a small sailing
craft or a motorboat to tour one of Europe’s most magical
harbours, or for a truly magnificent backdrop to your
romantic moment, visit the Vasa, a resplendently restored
17th-century sailing ship. On a quite diff erent tack, there’s
the delightful Milesgarden outdoor sculpture museum,
which is at its best when lit by spring sunshine.
Amsterdam
Cynics spoil things by telling us that Birmingham
has more miles of canals, but Amsterdam truly
is the ‘Venice of the North’. This is a compact city,
its centre a spider’s web of concentrically curved
leafy streets and waterways lined with picturepostcard
period houses. Sit in the sunshine
outside one of the famed ‘brown caf
