Click and it’s done. Love-locked forever.
Roman lovers have a special way to seal their undying love on Valentine’s Day….
They attach a lock on a lamp-post on one of Rome’s most famous bridges and toss the key into the Tiber River….and no one can tear them apart…or so they say.
For several years now young lovers have been making their way to Ponte Milvio, an ancient Roman bridge to confess their love.
Hundreds of locks hang down from a lamp-post in the middle of the bridge..
Couples have written their names, the date and love messages on the locks. “I love you” reads one, “one year together” reads another and “forever” another.
There are so many locks, in fact, that the city of Rome is concerned that they need to make some changes to avoid the lamp-post becoming an eyesore on the historic bridge.
And the city may have to do something in a hurry…couples with locks in hand are rushing to the bridge to mark this year’s Valentine’s day
The local hardware store, visible from the lamp-post does a brisk business in locks of all shapes and sizes.
The only problem is when something goes wrong, and hearts get broken.
But hardware salesman Gianni Antonelli has the solution.
He sells metal clippers to break locks and indelible markers to cross out names of discarded lovers. There is also an option for those who are a little less sure of their love, the combination lock.
A local council from the Milvio Bridge neighborhood voted last December to have all the locks removed, noting that their weight could bring down lampposts on the bridge. For the moment the Rome Mayor has been too busy coping with snow to do anything about it.
A little background here on this bridge and why it is not exactly a symbol of peace and love. Way back in October 312, two Roman Emperors fought a critical battle on the bridge. Emperor Constantine marched on the city of Rome to challenge Emperor Maxentius. During a furious battle on the bridge Maxentius fell into the water and died trying to swim to safety. Apparently Maxentius’s body was fished out, they chopped off his head and paraded it through the streets just to make sure everyone knew he wasn’t in charge any more. Constantine’s victory gave him total control of the Western Roman Empire, he later converted to Christianity and became the first Christian emperor of the Roman Empire. Constantine went on to establish the Eastern Roman empire moving his capital to Constantinople.
. . once it was locks and lockets – now it’s locks and lock its! Do women still believe men when they do this stuff? Not being cynical, just curious.
I definitely think the combination lock is the best option. You never know when you might need to unlock in a big hurry. And you save money on the metal clippers! I guess I am a hopeless cynic too!
My, what a charming tradition. I had no idea. Thanks for the enlightenment, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
well what an interesting problem for the city of Roma, I wonder who thought of that very first lock?
ciao lisa
Hi Lisa, I don’t know who thought of the very first lock, but I know that it became popular after author Federico Moccia wrote about a young couple putting a lock on the bridge in his best-selling novel about two Roman teenagers in love. It is called “Ho Voglia di Te” (I Want You). The book later became a movie. Thanks for your comment. Ciao, Trisha
What a danged reprehensible act of vandalism! I write this in May 2017 from Paris and have been appalled at the damage wrought by the locks on bridges in Rome, Paris, London, Dublin and elsewhere. Destroying works of art and objects of history and beauty is not “charming” and it bodes ill for “true love.” Take a picture. If you must do something permanent, tattoo your own hide. But for gawd’s sake, stop thinking that the world–its trees and rocks, the buildings and sculptures–belong to you and may be savaged as you see fit.
I think you are right Ellen. I wrote that post so long ago and forgot to put a date on it, but the good news is the locks have been removed. Ponte Milvio is an historic and important bridge in Rome and needs to be protected and maintained.