Introduction
Romance is the intimate expression of emotional attraction and affection that usually associated with love through gestures, words or a heartfelt communication. The origin of love and romance is murky. However, the Greeks are known to have described the different kinds of love. The word eros was used to imply carnal love while agape was used to describe spiritual love. Romance has its roots in medieval chivalry, which pervades many of today’s courting rituals such as opening the door, pulling the chair or buying dinner for a woman. Today, romantic gestures are best seen in the context of courtship and marriage. Perhaps the three most romantic gestures that a man can do for a woman are proposing to marry, exchanging personally written vows in a wedding and going for a honeymoon. There are several honeymoon destinations that provide the ultimate experience and context for romance. This paper examines romance and honeymoons and provides a brief case study of the Grand Hotel Florence, a world-famous honeymoon destination.
Romance is an action as well as an emotion that is associated with love. Romance is a pleasurable feeling brought about by affection and strong emotional connection with another person. In medieval times, the significance of love in relationships was seen as a reaction in arranged marriages. However, it was not regarded as a prerequisite in matrimony. Suitors used flowery poetry and serenaded to woo their intended marital partners. Romance is associated with tokens of love as well as courtship tokens. Taking a newly married wife to a honeymoon is regarded as one of the most romantic gestures in love.
Honeymoons provide the perfect happy ending to the wedding. The earliest known reference of the honeymoon concept is in the Bible. The Book of Deuteronomy 24:5 outlines how a man would be exempt from public duty for a period of one year after marriage (Silver, 2010). This would be done for the purposes of bringing joy to the man’s newly wedded wife. The word “honeymoon” dates to the fifth century AD, when many cultural calendars were based on moon cycles rather than the solar cycle (Silver, 2010). At this time, it was custom for the newly-weds to celebrate their union through a honey-based alcoholic drink known as mead. The reference of “honey” may have originated from the main ingredient of the mead drink, which is drank shortly after a marriage union. Knowing one’s partner in terms of their dream gift, likes and dislikes is an important part of romance. This is because it enables one to choose the perfect token to give them or gesture to perform. This is no different in choosing honeymoon destinations.
People believe in taking their partners to the best possible honeymoon destination as a romantic gesture. There are several top honeymoon destinations in the world. According to Travelchannel.com (2013), most couples prefer a week, a fortnight or even a month of spending their honeymoon in an exotic place. This may be a beach vacation, ski trip or safari. Travelchannel.com (2013), lists the Camino Acapulco Diamante in Acapulco, Mexico as the number one honeymoon destination. Other destinations include the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada; The Fairmont Chateau in Alberta, Canada; Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida; Amankila in Indonesia; The Grand Hotel Florence in Italy; the Caneel Bay in the Virgin Islands and others.
The Grand Hotel Florence, located in Florence Italy is a romantic getaway spot for honeymooners. It is housed in an 18th Century palace which overlooks the Arno River. The rooms in this hotel are furnished lavishly in Florentine marble and fresco. The hotel is located ideally near the picturesque Duomo Cathedral, the Ufizi gallery as well as the shops in Ponte Vechio. The history behind the city as well as the art set a romantic mood for honeymooners. In addition, the sumptuous cuisine and classy wines are a major attraction. Florence is the Renaissance capital of the world and its beauty and charm attest to this fact. According to Sandall (2010), there are several top sights that honeymooners may visit while staying at the Grand Hotel Florence. The Piazza della Signoria provides a way to experience Florence by wandering through narrow alleys and viewing statues made by some of the world’s most revered artists. The Ponte Vecchio is a mediaeval bridge which provides the most majestic views of the city. The Ufizzi, the western World’s oldest museum, provides a chance to see some of the best paintings and art in the world. Another attraction in Florence is the Galleria dell’ Accademia which houses sculptures by Michelangelo.
Conclusion
Romance is the intimate expression of emotional attraction and affection that usually associated with love through gestures. Today, romantic gestures are best seen in the context of courtship and marriage. Spending a honeymoon in a beautiful spot is regarded by some as the ultimate romantic gesture. There are several top honeymoon destinations in the world. Travelchannel.com (2013), lists the Grand Hotel Florence as one of the world’s best honeymoon spots. This is because of the art and history associated with the city as well as the beautiful spots that honeymooners can visit while staying at the Grand Hotel.
References
Sandall, R. (2010). The Honeymooners Guide to Florence, Italy. Spokane wedding venues, Spokane wedding photographers, Spokane wedding blog, Spokane florists. Retrieved December 7, 2013, from http://applebrides.com/honeymoon-in-florence-italy/
Silver, J. (2010). Etymology of Honeymoon. Upon My Word Etymology of Honeymoon Comments. Retrieved December 7, 2013, from http://uponmyword.com/etymology-of-honeymoon
Travelchannel.com. (2013). Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations. Travel Channel. Retrieved December 7, 2013, from http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/romance-and-honeymoons/articles/top-10-honeymoon-destinations
