Rome, 1929. The Pope's tailor sends his only son, 35-year-old virgin Nello, to more liberal Bologna hoping he will find a wife. His head full of ideas on romantic love instilled by classical poetry, Nello hopelessly falls for Angela, a beautiful blind woman who indulges him only to win back her fiancé.
Romulus, a rough but genuine country man, finds, on the occasion of a religious festival, a girl, Rema, already his kindergarten companion. In love with her since then, he welcomes with joy the invitation to follow her to Rome, convinced that the young woman wants to marry him.