Love is an essential part of the human experience. It drives people to do incredible things — for better and for worse — and when you’re in it, there isn’t much that you wouldn’t do to keep it. And it’s love’s powerful allure that has driven people since the beginning of time to find ways to profess their tenderheartedness to those that they hold dearest in a variety of passionate and sometimes strange ways.
Today, travelers can honor their deepest desires when they partake in these romantic customs around the world. Whether they’re hoping to attract a partner, wanting to pledge their eternal commitment or looking to amp up their chances of conception, these celebrations of love might just do the trick.
To See and Do
Pont des Arts Bridge, Paris, France
What better place to begin our journey than the City of Love? Picture the scene: twinkling lights flicker as you stroll the ancient cobblestone streets, the smell of freshly baked goods wafting through the air. You stop to admire a boat passing through a nearby narrow canal, and a local Parisian throws you a wink. Pretty romantic, right? All of this is to say that it’s no surprise that Paris — and the fairytale-like atmosphere that it exudes — has acted as a muse for artists and romantics alike for centuries. And of all the city’s iconic monuments — the Eiffel Tower, the Lourve Museum, Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris — Pont des Arts Bridge is one of the most romantic.
The victim of shipwrecks and WWII bombings, one might be surprised to find that this symbol of amour has suffered a somewhat tragic history. However, after its reopening in 1984, Pont des Arts began its legacy as a place where couples and lovers professed their undying love to each other in the form of initial-engraved metal padlocks. Today, travelers who traverse Pont des Artes can admire over 700,000 ‘love locks’ placed by visitors past. Interestingly, while sentimental, the locks are beginning to cause some trouble as their combined weight is roughly the same as 20 elephants. For this reason, tourists are discouraged from adding to the collection, but that doesn’t make Pont des Arts any less romantic as it is the perfect place to snap a cute photo or enjoy a picnic at sunset during the summer.
Casa di Giulietta, Verona, Italy
A staple in literary history, many travelers are familiar with the story of Romeo and Juliet, a pair of star-crossed lovers who paid the ultimate price in the name of love. However, travelers might not know that you can visit the very same home that is said to have inspired the infamous tale — Casa di Giulietta. Located in Verona, Italy, Casa di Giulietta, also known simply as ‘Juliet’s House’, attracts nearly two million visitors each year.
While its Shakespearean connection is what puts Casa di Giulietta on the map for many tourists, the historical home also attracts a sizeable crowd of honeymooners and lovers looking to leave their mark on the world in the form of sticky notes and love locks. The story goes that if you leave a message with your name on it and post it beneath Juliet’s famed balcony, she will cast a lucky spell on you, binding your love for eternity. Another popular tradition on the premises includes writing letters to Juliet where travelers disclose their deepest desires to the young maiden, sometimes burning the edges of the paper to mimic the look of medieval parchment. Finally, for good measure, a life-like bronze statue of Juliet sits in the courtyard, and it is rumored that those who touch her right breast will be lucky in love and fertility.
Baths of Aphrodite, Latchi, Cyprus
If anyone were to know the ins and outs of matters of the heart, it would undoubtedly be Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty. And when travelers visit Cyprus, they can explore the backdrop that inspired the legends that tell of Aphrodite’s life, escapades and romantic encounters. Of particular interest to lovebirds are Cyprus’ Baths of Aphrodite, a collection of crystal clear spring water pools hidden amongst foliage and fig trees that are said to bless all those who enter with the gift of eternal beauty, youth and fertility.
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Unfortunately, thanks to a family of electric eels and other concerns, swimming in the Baths of Aphrodite is strictly prohibited. However, travelers can still enjoy a splash of the famed waters from a nearby fountain that spouts the same enchanted liquid.
To Celebrate
Kanamara Matsuri, Kawasaki, Japan
Well known for its quirkiness, travelers may be unsurprised to learn that Japan plays host to the annual Kanamara Matsuri festival — aka, the festival of the steel phallus. That’s right, those who visit Kawasaki on the first Sunday in April can expect to find a bounty of penis-shaped statues, gifts and other various paraphernalia as residents celebrate reproductive health and fertility. The collection of phalluses is also said to ward off STIs, which begs the question, is there anything more romantic than a clean bill of health?
Whether they have babies on their minds or just want to experience the obscure celebration for themselves, travelers will find that they aren’t the only foreigners in the crowd as Kanamara Matsuri attracts plenty of tourists each year. Visitors can enjoy penis-shaped snacks, admire festivalgoers in colorful costumes, pray for fertility and good fortune at one of the three shrines or snap a picture next to the famed pink phallic statue.
Wife Carrying World Championships, Sonkajarvi, Finland
Couples looking to test their relationship can take their love to the next level when they compete in Finland’s Wife Carrying World Championships. A yearly affair, this wild competition follows husband and wife duos from around the globe as they attempt to conquer a 250-meter course — including a one-meter deep pool — dotted with various obstacles. And to top it off, there’s a catch: all husbands must carry their wives on their backs in one of three ways — piggyback, over the shoulder or Estonian-style.
Considered one of the seven most bizarre ‘feats of strength’ events in the world, the Wife Carrying Championship has amassed quite the fanbase since its beginning in 1992. After all, nothing says, “I love you,” like taking home the gold.
To Mourn
Museum of Broken Relationships, Croatia
Let’s face it, every good love story leaves a few broken hearts in its wake. From amicable splits to unrequited love, sometimes things just don’t work out. But what do you do when that special person is no longer in your life? And more importantly, what do you do with all their stuff? That’s where the Museum of Broken Relationships comes in. Described as ‘a physical and virtual public space created with the sole purpose of treasuring and sharing your heartbreak stories and symbolic possessions,’ this unique collection is an ever-evolving ode to love, heartache and pain.
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Travelers hoping to experience — or contribute to — the Museum of Broken Relationships can find permanent exhibits in Los Angeles and Zagreb, Croatia amongst smaller pop-up installations around the globe.
Originally appeared in the Fall 2022 issue of The Compass magazine.
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