Italy Wedding LocationsHow do you go about deciding which of the many possible locations in Italy is right for your wedding? The distinctive regional characteristics are such that, if you don’t have a favourite area or somewhere already in mind, my advice would be to select the location that matches the personality, atmosphere or theme you’re aiming for for your wedding in Italy.
Hopelessly RomanticVeronaAll of Italy is romantic, but if you are hopelessly romantic it has to be Verona, setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.
Set on the hilly banks of the Adige River, Verona is a cultural treasure-chest, with plenty of fine arts museums, and famous opera and theatre summer season. The Cloisters of the Church of San Francesco al Corso contains the tomb of Juliet and is said to have been where the star-crossed lovers were married. Nearby is the famous balcony, which is thought to bring everlasting love and luck to couples who visit it. Best time to have your wedding: Nearby attractions: How to get there: Essential viewing: VeniceHistorically both straight-laced and absolutely decadent, Venice is a quietly romantic and beautiful location.
There is quite literally nowhere else like it in the world: fabulous architecture rises from the lagoon and lines the gondola filled canals, with not a whiff of a car or modern building in sight. Not only does the city look and feel phenomenal, like Verona it is also well known for fine arts and theatre, and has plenty of churches filled with famous paintings and frescos. Civil weddings can be held in the Town Hall which is situated in the 15th century Gothic Palazzo Cavalli, near to the Rialto Bridge. Best time to have your wedding: Nearby attractions: How to get there: Essential viewing: A Sense of the DramaticThe Italian Lake DistrictSpreading out between Piedmont, Veneto, Switzerland and Trentio, where towering mountains descend to the lowlands, lies The Italian Lake District, an inspirational location for the Romantic Poets as well as modern-day writers.
The area offers several resorts, each as beautiful as the other but with individual characteristics, the most famous being Lakes Como, Garda & Maggiore. Long and narrow, the deep blue waters of Lake Como are surrounded by Romanesque Villas, wooded mountain slopes and pretty, varied towns such as Bellagio, Menaggio and Como itself. Lake Garda sweeps down from the northern mountains to the busy southern towns, and has many towns and villages along its banks, including medieval Sirmione, the quintessentially Italian town of Desenzano del Garda, and hilly Malcesine. The quieter shores of Lake Maggiore have a wilder, more majestic beauty. Among the cable-cars and popular islands are the towns of Stresa, Arona, Pallanza and the Borromean Islands. Best time to have your wedding: Nearby attractions: How to get there: Essential viewing: The Amalfi CoastFurther south and on the western coast of Italy is the plunging, volcanic Amalfi Coast, with its pretty towns and villages teetering on the edge of the cliffs or clinging to the cliff-face.
Sorrento Most famous of these towns is the bustling and sociable Sorrento, with its cobbled, winding streets and busy restaurants. Perched on a cliff-side of volcanic rock and overlooking the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius looming in the distance, it is not only a popular attraction in itself, but also serves as an excellent base for visiting all the local areas and coastal towns. There are several options when it comes to civil wedding venues, but the most popular is the 13th century stone-vaulted Cloisters of the Church of St. Francis. Positano Amalfi & Ravello Capri Best time to have your wedding: Nearby attractions: How to get there: Essential viewing: Cosmopolitan & FashionableRomeA heady mix of the modern and the ancient, Rome, "The Eternal City", has all the fashion and life of an up-to-date capital, interspersed with a thousand historical monuments and Roman buildings just perfect for a civil wedding.
This is a city where the ancient sits side-by-side with the modern and cosmopolitan, and the presence of the majestic Vatican in its midst has an additional significance for those holding a Catholic ceremony in the area. Best time to have your wedding: How to get there: Essential viewing: Fine Art & Wine LoversTuscanyThe warm, fragrant wine-region of Tuscany calls to mind rolling hills where vineyards and olive groves are dotted with farmhouses and villas, all interspersed with medieval towns and cities full of Renaissance art and artifacts.
At the heart of the region is its capital, Florence, a city built to reflect the beauty of its surroundings. Set in the Tuscan countryside, its wealth of fine arts and breathtaking architecture have turned it into a heaving tourist destination, especially in the summer months. Less busy but just as atmospheric are the charming towns of Siena, Arezzo, Cortona & Pisa, all of which are built on several levels overlooking the rolling countryside beyond, and are home to some wonderful frescoed churches and beautiful Duomi. For those looking for something more intimate, there is also the charming medieval town of Certaldo. Best time to have your wedding: How to get there: Essential viewing:
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