The 5 Most Romantic Monuments To Visit On Valentine’s Day

by Benjamin Lewis

When writing my post, the 5 Most Romantic Places To Celebrate Valentine’s Day, my research involved interviewing my friends.  Surprisingly, a great deal of them named monuments.  I heard responses such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Statue of Liberty, Arc de Triomphe, and others.  But, monuments are things, not places.  Nevertheless, I felt compelled to write about the 5 most romantic monuments, as well.  So here they are – The Five Most Romantic Monuments To Visit On Valentine’s Day!

 

Taj Mahal

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As the most romantic monument of all, the Taj Mahal draws lovers from all four corners of the earth.  It stands as a memorial of the love shared between Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal.  Unfortunately, she died while giving birth to their 14th child.  Despondent, Shah Jahan commissioned this extravagant tomb at a price tag of well over $800,000,000 in today’s money.  The resulting edifice became the pinnacle of Mughal architecture and the world’s most famous symbol of romantic love.

 

Hollywood Sign

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There’s no telling how many aspiring actors have made the pilgrimage to Hollywood and sat under the Hollywood Sign.  With romantic notions of fame and fortune fluttering in their minds, they braved the short, downward trek from the road above this iconic symbol.  As a relatively secluded spot within the metropolis of Los Angeles, it makes for a great location to relax with your sweetheart after Valentine’s Day dinner.  And, on clear days, the view of the L.A. skyline sparkles like the stars themselves!

 

Sweetheart Abbey

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These little-known ruins in Scotland once stood as a testament to the undying devotion of Dervorguilla of Galloway towards her late-husband Baron John de Balliol.  She named it Dulce Cor or Sweetheart.  And, the significance is quite literal.  You see, for the remainder of her life, Dervorguilla of Galloway kept the embalmed heart of her husband in a vessel made of ivory and silver.  Once she died, her husband’s heart was buried alongside her at Sweetheart Abbey.

 

Kodai-Ji Temple

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The Japanese tale of Kita no Mandokoro, or Nene, depicts another woman who used architecture to honor her late husband Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a prominent daimyo.  Interestingly enough, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa Shogun, financed the Kodai-Ji Temple specifically so Nene could pray for her husband.  The romantic Temple Garden simply bursts at the seams with natural beauty and presents a perfect place to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

 

Eiffel Tower

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For most people thinking about romantic monuments, the Eiffel Tower comes to mind first.  The reason probably has something to do with the fact that the tower provides the setting for countless romantic films and T.V. series.  Or, perhaps, our notions about the Eiffel Tower have bled over from our romantic ideas about the city of Paris in general.  Then again, maybe the Eiffel Tower is just plain romantic, you should spend Valentine’s Day there, and that’s the end of it.

 

Psst…  Hey you!  Got a great story about a romantic monument?  Let us know in the comments below and we might add it to the list during our next update!

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