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Since the 1980s, the Italian town of Ostana had not seen the birth of a single baby.
But last week, a dream came true, as the mayor of the small town said. A baby was born. The first in 28 years.
According to La Stampa , the town has only 85 inhabitants, including newborn Pablo. Its population has continuously fallen —a fate shared by many other Italian towns and villages.
"The real decline started in 1975, with 17 babies between 1976 and 1987, when the last boy was born — until little Pablo," Mayor Giacomo Lombardo was quoted as saying. A party will be held to celebrate what he hopes will be the start of a reversal of that trend.
The 25 most romantic cities in the worldShow all 25 1 /25The 25 most romantic cities in the world The 25 most romantic cities in the world 25. San Diego, California San Diego projects a laidback, relaxed yet elegant vibe that lends itself well to romance. From its sunny beaches and small coffee shops, to the historic Hotel Del Coronado or the million dollar views in La Jolla, San Diego is the perfect place to get lost for a few days.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 24. Dublin, Ireland Castles, culture and cathedrals add to the romance factor in Ireland’s capital city. The scenery is stunning, with rolling green hills and clear lakes surrounding the bustling city centre. You’ll never run out of date ideas here, with galleries, restaurants and concert halls at your disposal.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 23. Melbourne, Australia Australian Traveler Magazine voted Melbourne the “Most Romantic City” in 2013 and described it as “A little Paris by day, a little New York by night.” With charming bars and restaurants to duck into, and beautiful gardens to wander through hand in hand, it’s easy to see why this sophisticated city topped the list.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 22. Los Angeles, USA LA has something for every type of couple. With miles of beaches, some of the best restaurants and bars in the world, a glamorous Hollywood history and sunshine nearly year round, Los Angeles is romantic simply because you’ll never get bored in this sunny city.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 21. Cape Town, South Africa Cape Town has an abundance of fine dining establishments, relaxing spas and resorts. Go for a romantic horseback ride on Noordhoek Beach, or take a sunset cable car up to Table Mountain where you can soak in the majestic views.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 20. Marrakesh, Morocco Morocco is known as the “Red” city - the colour of love. From the bustling markets, spices that linger in the air, colourful tapestries that adorn the city and adventurous date ideas, Morocco is a city that will definitely ignite romance. It’s exotic, sexy and unique.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 19. Charleston, USA Charleston has been voted “America’s Favourite City” three times, and it’s nearly year round perfect weather, charming locals and rich history provide a low key backdrop to a romantic weekend away from the daily grind.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 18. Jaipur, India Known as India’s “Pink City,” Jaipur will awaken all of your senses with it’s rich culture and regal history. There are temples, luscious gardens, palaces and invigorating street bazaars to explore hand in hand with your partner.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 17. New York City, USA New York is on our list simply because of the limitless possibilities it has to offer - there's truly something for every couple in the big apple. From Central Park to Rockefeller Center, the Brooklyn Bridge and beyond, NYC is bursting with scenes that inspire romance and offers the best food, drinks, theatre and nightlife on Earth, which is why it's often dubbed “The Capital of the World.”
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 16. Edinburgh, Scotland Scotland’s capital city is full of mystery, intrigue and romance. With adorable tea rooms, world class pubs on every corner and Edinburgh Castle looking down on it all, there's no shortage of fun in this bustling city. The date ideas don’t end there though: if you’re feeling adventurous, you can book a ghost tour or hike up Arthur’s Seat.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 15. San Sebastian, Spain San Sebastian is a popular beach tourist destination worldwide and a quick weekend break from much of Europe. It offers sunny beaches that some say are the best in Europe, an old world ambience and gourmet cuisine which make San Sebastian the perfect backdrop for a sultry romance.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 14. Bath, England Bath is known for being one of the UK’s most romantic cities with good reason. This ancient city is surrounded by lush countryside and famous for its hot air balloon marriage proposals. Bath is the ideal walking city to stroll arm in arm, stopping in shops and enjoying an afternoon tea in the historic Pump rooms. Watching the sunset from the Thermae Bath Spa's (heated) rooftop pool is a particularly romantic way to end the day.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 13. Wellington, New Zealand The capital city of New Zealand boasts a stunning harbour and no shortage of fun activities for couples. Be prepared to explore the great outdoors, discover beaches and climb mountains.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 12. Lisbon, Portugal Stunning views, quaint promenades and charming architecture will take you back in time when visiting Lisbon. Don’t let the Old World charm fool you though; Lisbon is quickly becoming a cosmopolitan city with growing fine dining and music scenes.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 11. Montreal, Canada A little bit of Paris in North America, Montreal is a stunning blend of old world charm with a sophisticated twist. With seemingly limitless parks, cafes, and a charming city centre with plenty of after-dark options, there's something for every couple in the cultural capital of Quebec.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 10. Prague, Czech Republic Prague really comes alive at night when the lights bouncing off the cathedrals, castles and charming Old World architecture make a romantic stroll through the cobbled city streets and dark alleyways a delight.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 9. Florence, Italy CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI/AFP/GettyImages
The 25 most romantic cities in the world 8. Dubrovnik, Croatia Dubrovnik has long been a popular option for tourists around the world due to its beautiful views of the Adriatic sea. Its Old World charm will inspire romance as you stroll through the centuries-old white fortress walls lining the cliffs.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 7. Budapest, Hungary Stunning 19th century architecture, a world class music scene and hundreds of adorable cafes lining the streets make Budapest one of the most charming and romantic cities in the world.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 6. Buenos Aires, Argentina The capital city of Argentina combines a superb foodie scene and incredible nightlife. Wash a steak down with a glass of Malbec, then dance until dawn.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 5. Bruges, Belgium You’ll feel as if you’re in the middle of a medieval fairytale in this picturesque city, which has a classical charm. Taking a boat ride through one of the city’s many canals is a must-do.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 4. Kyoto, Japan Kyoto is a tranquil and historic city, full of cherry blossoms in the spring. From quaint tea houses to elaborate gardens, the city is full of romantic locations.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 3. Venice, Italy Romantic gondola rides, exploring the city's hidden walkways and bridges, strolling down the piazzas - everywhere in Venice is perfect for romance.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 2. Sydney, Australia With world class wineries, stunning beaches, sunshine and bustling nightlife, Sydney is second on the list simply because you’ll never run out of things to do in this vibrant city.
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The 25 most romantic cities in the world 1. Paris, France Catch a show at the Moulin Rouge, smooch under the Eiffel Tower, walk or cruise along the Seine...Paris aka “The City of Light” is the world's most romantic city.
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But the population decline will be hard to stop, no matter what ideas Lombardo comes up with. Younger Italians in particular say there are few attractive job prospects in rural areas. Many have moved to cities, leaving their hometowns to the elderly. Ostana, which is in northern Italy, has only one shop, a bar and two restaurants, according to the Italian news site the Local.
Some parts of northern Italy have been hit harder than others. But the south, including the island of Sicily, has faced more dramatic demographic changes in recent decades.
This map compares demographic trends all over Europe between 2001 and 2011. Areas colored green had an average annual increase in population over that time span, and areas colored brown experienced a decline in population. In areas colored white, no significant change occurred.
Reactions have seemed panicked at times. Another Italian town, for instance, recently made it mandatory for its inhabitants to attend a health check. The expressed goal of that initiative: slow down death rates to keep the town alive. Skeptics joked that the idea came close to "making it illegal to die."
Last year, Gangi, a town on the island of Sicily, had yet another idea: Its council decided to sell about 20 houses for less than $2. At least 50 people applied for the opportunity. There was a catch, of course: The buyers had to agree that they would renovate the properties. Although Gangi still has 7,000 inhabitants, its leaders fear that it might soon face the same decline as Ostana.
The arrival of baby Pablo has certainly been welcomed in Ostana, according to the mayor. "It's great to finally have someone born here, and it shows that our efforts to reverse population decline are slowly working," Lombardo was quoted as saying.
Lombardo has tried to create jobs in order to prevent other young people from leaving the town. Pablo might be the first indication that his strategy is working. His parents wanted to move away several years ago but stayed after they were offered the opportunity to work at a mountain refuge.
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