For years, the greatest romantic stories have been marked by great tragedies, and Todi is no exception. The Umbrian folk tradition, however, preserves three extraordinary tales where love has a vital power that endures through time and space. Three Umbrian legends perfect for Valentine's Day.

The Marmore waterfall, majestic and imposing, holds a sweet secret in its waters that still makes the hearts of tourists beat faster when they find themselves in the suggestive Balcony of lovers.
Legend has it that the nymph Nera, daughter of the god Apennines, one day fell in love with the young shepherd Velino attracting the wrath of the goddess Juno who sent the nymph to the top of Mount Vettore. Struggling with love, the nymph was transformed into the river Nera and began to flow up to the cliff where she had first met Velino. The boy, after learning the sad fate of his beloved, threw himself off the cliff of Marmore in an attempt to save her and was saved by Jupiter, who transformed him into water and reunited him with Nera for eternity. Today, the waterfall remains a symbol of their eternal love.

Lake Trasimeno, not far from Todi, also preserves a legend that has remained in popular history. The nymph Agilla lived in the centre of the lake and with her melodious singing seduced Prince Trasimeno, son of the Etruscan god Tirreno, who, after pretending to be a fisherman, asked the nymph to marry him. The two lived for a short time as lovers, then Trasimeno decided to take a bath and the nymph watched him from afar until the water became higher and he returned to the surface. Devastated by grief, she searched every inch of the lake until, exhausted and overcome by sadness, she let herself die in a boat. It is said that even today, when the wind blows and the lake ripples, one can hear the heartrending, consolationless lament of the Nymph Agilla, who eternally continues to search for her love.

The patron saint of lovers, St Valentine, Bishop of Terni and a person of great charity and humility, is Umbrian. Among his great deeds, he celebrated the marriage between the Roman legionary Sabinus and the young christian Serapia as her last wish, who was ill with consumption. The legend begins here. The two were in fact hindered in their love: Sabinus was pagan while Serapia was Christian. The girl invited him to come closer to religion in order to be baptised. The two fell into a deep sleep and remained there until they both died, thus sealing their love forever.
Bishop Valentine is said to have given a Rose of Reconciliation to couples who were arguing, begging them to make peace. Valentine continued to celebrate weddings by giving flowers to couples until he decided to set aside one day a year to dedicate to the celebration of love.

Having come this far, we can only leave you with an invitation to discover Todi in search of that touch of romance that makes our town unique.