At the time, Valentino, also in his 20s, was working in his familyâs gelato shop. Luciano was a family friend and he quickly decided that Valentino and Carly were destined to be together. â[He would say] âYou should meet this person. Sheâs very nice. I think you guys will marry. You should marry each other,ââ says Valentino.
Valentino had already noticed her in the village, and one afternoon he spotted her at the local pizzeria. âSomething got into me and I had to say ciao to her.â Carly smiled back and that afternoon she went into the gelato shop. After giving her a scoop, Valentino asked her out. They spent the evening at a local bar, drinking wine and talking. âWe both really fell for each other straight away,â says Carly. âIt was like we couldnât stop talking.â
How we stay together: It’s within those storms that you aim for the sun Alexandra Spring
Years together: 20
Occupations: Self-employed
Carly and Valentino Giannoni’s relationship had a picture book start. In 2000, Carly, a twenty-something Australian, went backpacking around Europe. While she was in Italy, she wanted to visit Cinque Terre, the picturesque fishing villages on the Italian Riveria, overlooking the Mediterranean. She found herself in the pretty hamlet of Vernazza and rented a room from Luciano, a local who would turn out to be a fairy godfather of sorts.
At the time, Valentino, also in his 20s, was working in his family’s gelato shop. Luciano was a family friend and he quickly decided that Valentino and Carly were destined to be together. “[He would say] ‘You should meet this person. She’s very nice. I think you guys will marry. You should marry each other,’” says Valentino.