Dream weddings are an unruly beast: as soon as your heart is set on a venue, a hot new destination is sure to pop its head around the corner and make itself known – whether that’s one of the gorgeous venues Europe has to offer, or a spectacular city destination like New York. If your heart is set on Italy – or you’re still seeking wedding ideas – you’ve come to the right place (and chosen very well): there is a plethora of gorgeous Italian wedding venues, from sleek city destinations to more rustic and traditional farmhouses. Here’s the C&TH pick of the best.
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Italian Wedding Venues: Beautiful Destinations to Tie the Knot
Off-the-Radar Wedding Destination: Calabria
Villa Paola
The un-tourist-trodden grounds of Calabria – situated on the toe of the boot – host spectacular mountains, rollercoaster roads and a stunning coastline – all steeped in tranquility. Calabrian cuisine is a gift to behold: chili pepper, ‘nduja and Tropea onions thrive here in the natural landscape and fertile terrain – some of Italy’s simplest (yet effective) cuisines.
Head to Villa Paola (and its Ristorante De Minimi) in Tropea to make the most of it: white sea cliffs and creamy buildings overlook the tiny islet palace and a curve of shimmering sand – a stunning backdrop for your ceremony and subsequent photos. Villa Paola, dating back to the 16th century, is charming, romantic, and adults-only. Once part of a Franciscan convent, the Villa was converted into a private home in the 1920s.
Today, 12 rooms and suites host sleepy guests after days spent on the outdoor terrace, lounging by the pool, strolling the nearby marina, or hiking ancient Tropea. The wedding suite has large windows, an elegant living space, and a private mosaic hammam.
BOOK: Rooms from £250 per night, based on two people sharing a double room on a B&B basis. villapaolatropea.it
A Classically Romantic Italian Wedding Venue in Maremma
L’Andana
Located in Maremma – a stunning, unexplored region of Tuscany – L’Andana is what Italian wedding dreams are made of. Couples seeking a special personal touch to their wedding have options galore here: wed in the private chapel or outdoors, where the olive groves and grape vines slope into the crystal Mediterranean Sea; decorate the venue for the reception exactly how you wish; choose between options for everything from photographers and videographers to music, luxury cars and food.
Whether for an elopement or a magnificent celebration with up to 500 guests, L’Andana provides the most elegantly romantic setting.
BOOK: Rooms from €440 per night based on two sharing on a B&B basis. andana.it
Image (c) Gianni Buonsante
An A-List Wedding Venue in Lake Como
Villa Sola Cabiati, Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Make like the A-list and take your nuptials to Lake Como for a day to remember. The Villa Sola Cabiati at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo dates back to the 1500s and is a treasure trove of original antique furnishings, textiles and frescoes by notable Renaissance painters.
The neoclassical villa on the shores of Lake Como comes with touches of modern luxury such as Bluetooth music systems, private butlers for banquet dinners and a hidden swimming pool, as well as the seamless service of the five-star hotel. There is even an incredible private museum floor which offers guests unrivalled and unique up-close access to a magical collection of artefacts including a bed belonging to Napoleon, a friend of the Serbelloni family, as well as silk dresses belonging to his lovers.
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BOOK: Exclusive hire available from 6,000 EUR / £5,302 per night +VAT on a minimum 3-night basis. grandhoteltremezzo.com
A Slice of Sicily
Verdura Resort
With the sweeping Sicilian mountains and the Mediterranean Sea encircling this luxury resort, it is not hard to imagine your dream Italian wedding here. Verdura Resort – with its sandy beach, lemon groves, and effortless glamour and sophistication – fuses modern design with environmentally sensitive architecture.
With its 153 rooms, 44 suites and 6 pool suites, the resort can organise an unforgettable experience. Arrive a few days early to enjoy some relaxation at The IreneForte Spa, an exclusive, 4,000 metre square refuge with a holistic approach to health and well-being. Four thalassotherapy pools, two saunas, a hammam and a wide range of personalised treatments and programmes will ease you nicely into the big day.
BOOK: Rooms from €365 per night in a Deluxe Room on B&B basis. roccofortehotels.com
A Rustic Italian Wedding Venue Between Tuscany and Umbria
Borgo Bastia Creti
Borgo Bastia Creti is a secluded 14th century Hamlet located in between Umbria and Tuscany, with a casual atmosphere mixed with rustic, elegant comfort. A smaller venue, Borgo is the perfect property for couples looking to concentrate on the finer details of their big day with a smaller group of guests – a micro-wedding, if you will.
13 bedrooms are split across cottages to ensure everyone in your party is accommodated, and an olive grove with centuries-old trees provide a stunning, rustic backdrop. The ivy-covered courtyard, too, is ideal for photos – and the chapel, lined with frescoed walls, makes for a memorable ceremony. It can be transformed into a dancefloor afterwards.
BOOK: Rooms from €280 per night or €1,400 per week, based on two adults sharing La Limonaia, excluding breakfast. bastiacreti.it
Seaside Living in Sistiana
Portopiccolo
With panoramic views from every location stretching across crystal clear waters of the Northern Adriatic, Portopiccolo is nestled in a private bay along the Gulf of Trieste. Think Italian Borgo combined with seaside living, Portopiccolo Sistiana resort includes the five-star Falisia Hotel, Yacht Club and private marina, Spa and Medical Spa by Bakel, fitness area, seaside Beach Club, restaurants, cafes, cocktail bars and boutiques.
Wedding spaces include the Pavilion, in the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia and catering for a wedding of up to 350 guests with spell binding views across the Adriatic from the second floor terrace. Alternatively, for a more relaxed and casual beachfront setting, Portopiccolo’s Beach Club, perched on a private white shingle beach where the water is at its clearest, is the ideal location.
Sustainable, Rustic Chic in Volterra
Borgo Pignano
For couples yearning for total escapism in a stylish and secluded venue, Borgo Pignano’s location in a 750-acre organic estate is just the ticket. With its very own Romanesque church – San Bartolomeo, which has served Pignano since the 13th century – this is a true medieval destination.
With an atmosphere of understated sophistication, and with the 18th century Villa and the medieval hilltop town of Volterra as backdrops, the rustic charm of Borgo Pignano shines through. Swathes of manicured lawns surround the main property, with banks of climbing roses and ancient umbrella pine trees adding to the romance. The finer details include long scrubbed wooden tables, with soft linens and beautiful flowing flowers down the centre, creating the elusive, luxurious elegance of Tuscan chic.
BOOK: Rooms from €300 per night based on two adults staying in the Villa, on a B&B basis. borgopignano.com
Image (c) Mark Bolton
Historic Romance in Sorrento
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria
Bursting with beauty and character and boasting unforgettable panoramic views, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is the perfect place to say ‘I do’. The elegant Vittoria dining room is the prestigious location of elegant intimate weddings, but move to the lounges on the Vittoria or Royal terraces for the reception to overlook the Gulf of Naples. The citrus grove by the swimming pool is another stunning option.
Each carefully designed space evokes timeless romanticism, essential for any wedding day. To ensure that all wishes are granted on the special day, couples can tailor the cuisine, cocktails, wedding cakes, floral arrangements, table décor, wedding stationery and music.
BOOK: Rooms from €637 per night on a B&B basis, based on two people sharing a garden view room. excelsiorvittoria.com
Featured Image: Bastia Creti
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