Urban Casanovas know it's on their doorstep, but where? That's the question being posed in a quest to discover "those special places that touch our gentler souls, soften our hearts, enhance our romantic moments or just make us feel good".
Although there is only one street in Dublin that includes the word love in its name (Love Lane East), several romantic spots have been nominated, ranging from the obelisk on Killiney Hill to "outside Burdock's chipper, near Christ Church Cathedral".
Rethinking Cities, a London-based website, is working with city authorities to map romance in cities across Europe, with the aim of designating "Romantic Ribbon" routes linking urban places that strike a chord with the heart strings.
The company describes itself as "a small, independent [ employee-owned] and flexible firm of consultants advising clients from the built environment, education, health, and transport sectors".
"From our experience and research, we have found that places that are perceived to be romantic tend to be well-designed, genuinely make us feel good and add to our emotional wellbeing," says Andrew Stuck, who is running the project.
"Romantic weekend breaks are great, if you have the time and money to enjoy them, but what of all those special possibilities for romance on your doorstep?" he asks. "Whether inspired by fiction or your own stories, we want to find all those magical places."
Rethinking Cities wants to promote romantic urban spaces, places, walks or routes in publicly accessible urban settings (not ones where you have to pay to enter or use), as well as gauging what elements make a place romantic.
"We use romance as a metaphor for people to better understand good urbanism," Mr Stuck says. "We all experience the built environment through our senses but what are our feelings as we move through our neighbourhoods and towns?"
The key questions, according to him, are: "Do we feel comfortable? Does it make us feel happy? Does it add to our life experience?"
It's all about "senses and feelings", and who would be better able to measure these than people in love?
Nominations received for Dublin so far include Vico Road in Dalkey ("with its view of the bay and the beach"), the East Pier in Dún Laoghaire ("a strollers' paradise"), the Iveagh Gardens and that old favourite, Clerys clock on O'Connell Street. Someone who obviously has the inside track recommended Meeting House Square in Temple Bar: "Though surrounded by award-winning architecture, it's such a backwater in terms of footfall that it makes an ideal place for a snog!"
London's nominated romantic places include bridges (Waterloo Bridge - looking west, Albert Bridge and Chelsea Walk); river views (South Bank looking towards the London Eye); church gardens (St Luke's in Chelsea); and Highgate Cemetery.
Those who would like to recommend a romantic urban place - anywhere - and enjoy a chance to win €300 can send a digital "postcard" by visiting www.rethinkingcities.net/romance/ribbons.asp
