Popping the Question

Oh, there won't be any shortage of those. One that comes to mind for me is in Fiesole, overlooking Florence. It's a simple bus ride to get there (details in RS book) and it has a stunning view over the city. There's a wonderful restaurant there as well.

Ponte Vecchio is one of the most crowded and touristy places in Florence. You won't be alone.

For a beautiful, private place that you might well have all to yourselves, consider the Giardini Bardini, across the river and next to the (more famous) Boboli Gardens. go in through the building at the bottom and start walking up to find a suitable place.

There are arbors and view terraces with views over Florence to the Duomo. Find the "photos" button on the website and have a look around:

http://www.bardinipeyron.it/ab/

Joe -

It's Italy. Wouldn't it be easier to ask folks where a NON-romantic spot to pop the question might be?

A great place in Rome after dark would be the piazza in front of the Quirinale Palace. From the railing on far side from the street, you look out over a valley with the illuminated dome of St. Peter's in the background. There are usually other people around, but it's never crowded that time of day. It's safe too, since the elaborately dressed presidental guards are armed and alert. If I'm not mistaken, I beleive I once saw a proposal there, and the couple received applause and "Tanti auguri" from the others enjoying the view.

My choice would be a seculded spot in the Colissuem near sundown. Can't get much more epic than that. But I agree with John -- fantastic, romantic possibilities will abound, You may stumble upon a wonderful place virtually anywhere in either city.

my suggestion would be the Boboli gardens in Florence.

I've got to vote against the Boboli gardens due to the fact that you'll be there in September. We were there in September and the garden is pretty much fried at that point by the hot Italian summer. If you were going to be there in spring, I'd say go for it. But by September it's looking pretty frazzled. And no flowers to speak of then either.

Another option would be one of the bridges (Ponte Sisto or Ponte Mazzini, for example) over the Tiber in Rome in the evening, with St. Peter's aglow in the background. You could even mention something about how getting married is one of life's significant bridges that most of us cross.

Best wishes.

Piazzale Michelangelo overlooking Florence.

I agree with the Boboli gardens....you are bound to find a nice spot there where you can be alone (up near the top offers some awesome views).

Good luck to you....I just got back from a European trip where I asked my g/f to marry me and it was probably the highlight of the trip for sure!

[[No place where the ring will fall through the cracks in the floor - storm grates, non-solid bridge surfaces, too near a stream, get stuck between wooden floor planks, dropped in a deep-basinned fountain, too near a pile of stones at an archaeological site. I've heard of all of these happenning in Europe...(for that reason, the Eiffel Tower scenario always makes me nervous...) ]]

Just a general note to be prepared to propose anytime, anywhere. Have that ring with you, because that walk home through that piazza or quiet park after a wonderful dinner might be The Time. And your Perfect Planned Time might be rained out...crowded...the school field trip has arrived...you've just had a little travel-related skirmish...any number of things might go wrong. This isn't something you want to force because you're at The Place. The top of the Eiffel Tower isn't so romantic anymore when she's ticked off at you, your head is about to explode, both of you are starving, your feet hurt, etc. :-(

Frankly, it's Italy - unless you're hanging around the garbage dumpsters, pretty much anywhere will be great. It's really about just the two of you...For me, personally, I'd love someplace like those little cloister gardens - they're practically deserted, even the most popular ones, and there are many in Italy where you'd be the only two people. Or, a quiet, non-touristed church. You know who you are - a quiet, private couple or a let's-get-engaged-on-top-of-the-Eiffel-Tower-while-everyone-applauds type couple. Nothing wrong with either type, and sometimes the Eiffel Tower is actually perfect for the private couple and vice-versa. (and yes, the Eiffel Tower was used as the stereotypical 'perfect place'; everyone knows it's in Belgium, not Italy ;-} )

Be prepared; you'll know when It's Time.

(I'm soooo excited...8-D...let us know later how things went!)

How about in front of St. Peter's at night when the basilica is illuminated? Has such a magical and sacred feel to it.

Florence, Top of the Duomo.

Rome, Top of Castel Sant'Angelo.

If you and your soon to be fiance are night owls, I heard that going to the Trevi Fountain around 1 am is absolutely beautiful. All the tourist are sleeping and the fountain is backlit at night. Good luck!!

The rooftop terrace of Hotel Raphael in Rome