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The most beautiful venues in Italy

For a seaside wedding

Whether on the beach, on a panoramic terrace or in enchanting gardens looking out over the sea

by Giorgia Torsello

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Millions of couples from around the world choose Italy to make their romantic seaside wedding dream come true. Whether you’re after a beach wedding, a picture-perfect location on a panoramic terrace or an enchanting garden setting looking out over the sea, Italy offers spellbinding scenery, with sun-kissed beaches with crystal-clear waters and romantic strawberry sunsets lighting the coastline.

Italy is home to a diverse range of seaside wedding destinations, both sophisticated and elegant, from the eternally chic Portofino to the more traditional Apulia, where guests can experience local culture and traditions while enjoying Italy’s beautiful seascapes and outstanding cuisine.

Here’s our pick of the most beautiful locations in Italy for an exclusive and memorable seaside wedding, including restored palazzi and luxurious 5-star hotels. Our round-up below excludes venues on the Amalfi Coast, as we have dedicated a whole piece to the area.

Cover photo by www.postavecchiahotel.com

La Cervara | Liguria Via Cervara, 10 – Santa Margherita Ligure

Photo by www.booking.com

Best known as La Cervara, the celebrated Abbazia di San Girolamo al Monte di Portofino dates back to 1361. It’s located just off the iconic coastal road that leads to Portofino, an earthly paradise overlooking the Mediterranean. Its spectacular Italian gardens are split on two levels, where the sweet scent of flowers and the smell of the sea embrace and intertwine in an intoxicating pleasure for the senses. La Cervara houses 11 charming rooms and suites, making it particularly convenient for brides to nip up to their room for a quick outfit change or to touch up their hair and make-up. With accommodation on site, it’s perfect, too, for couples wanting to party until dawn.

Masseria Torre Coccaro | Apulia C.da Coccaro, 8 – Savelletri di Fasano

Photo by tweetandtravel.com

Enjoying a tranquil rural setting surrounded by indigenous plants and Mediterranean crops, Masseria Torre Coccaro is a luxury hotel dating back to the 16th century. Offering a traditional setting and an authentic Apulian atmosphere, the Hotel makes for the perfect venue for a memorable wedding. There’s a small consecrated chapel for religious celebrations and plenty of activities and facilities for guests, including four restaurants – one of which has a particularly evocative setting by the Hotel’s ancient vaulted stables and a pergola ablaze with jasmine and bougainvillea – serving traditional dishes exclusively prepared with local produce. You’ll find two beach clubs and a golf course nearby, and horseback riding and Vespa tours are available too.

La Tonnara di Scopello | Sicily Largo Tonnara – Scopello

Photo by www.latonnaradiscopello.it

Offering a traditional and romantic setting, La Tonnara di Scopello is an ancient fishing village with rich offshore tuna fishing grounds lapped by Sicily’s crystal-clear waters. It’s a stone’s throw away from the Zingaro Nature Reserve, home to two medieval watch towers and imposing faraglioni, or stacks, which protect the coastline from strong winds and sea currents. Difficult to access, La Tonnara makes for the perfect exclusive hideaway for couples seeking an intimate and private seaside wedding venue. Ceremonies take place in a nearby open-air church; alternatively, you can opt for a celebration at the water’s edge.

Belmond Hotel Splendido | Liguria Salita Baratta, 16 – Portofino

Photo by www.belmond.com

Set in a former Benedictine monastery nestled among lush, wild vegetation, the enchanting Belmond Hotel Splendido offers wonderful views of the Bay of Portofino from its lovely hillside location. With an elegant and glamorous atmosphere exuding La Dolce Vita, the Hotel offers sophisticated and comfortable interiors with Belle Epoque features and trompe l’oeil details in gentle pastel hues. The gardens are perfect for small wedding ceremonies, whether Protestant or Hebrew, while dream receptions can take place between the infinity pool and La Terrazza Restaurant. Located in the local town square is Chuflay, a lovely restaurant that is the perfect spot to enjoy a traditional brunch of trofie al pesto, a Ligurian specialty, and local fish dishes with friends and loved ones.

Borgo Egnazia | Apulia Strada Comunale Egnazia – Savelletri di Fasano

Photo by www.egnazia.co.uk

Nestled among olive trees, prickly pears and bougainvillea, Borgo Egnazia was inspired by the shapes, materials and colors of a typical Apulian village. Offering all the comforts of a luxury hotel, Borgo Egnazia is home to tastefully furnished private villas and suites, a Michelin-starred restaurant, two beach clubs and a Spa offering a range of personalized beauty treatments. San Domenico Golf is also conveniently located nearby. There are plenty of gorgeous locations in which to host seaside wedding receptions. Adorned with traditional decorations, the beautiful town square will leave your guests speechless.

Masseria San Domenico | Apulia Strada Provinciale 90 – Savelletri di Fasano

Photo by www.booking.com

One of Italy’s most exclusive seaside edding venues, this ancient fortified farmhouse was once the watchtower of the medieval Knights of Malta. Inside are spacious halls with vaulted ceilings in the shape of a four-pointed star, while outside is a lush Mediterranean garden, two private beaches, and a much celebrated 18-hole golf course. Available for exclusive hire, San Domenico houses 40 traditionally styled rooms and suites, including four rooms right on the beach that are veritable oases of peace and tranquility.

Tonnara di Marzamemi | Sicily Piazza Regina Margherita, 1 – Marzamemi

Photo by www.tonnaradimarzamemi.it

Steeped in history, this magical, humble venue is a unique place to make your wedding dream come true. One of the most evocative places in eastern Sicily, Tonnara is located in the seaside town of Marzamemi, whose name comes from the Arabic ‘marsha al hamem’, or ‘bay of turtle doves’. Overlooking the sea, La Loggia degli Scieri – an area once used to harbor tuna fishing boats – occupies an area of about 750sqm, making it ideal to host large wedding receptions with long, banquet-style tables. Accommodation is available in the adjacent Palazzo Villadorata, an elegant Baroque palazzo looking out onto the church square that is the private residence of Prince Di Reburdone.

 

La Posta Vecchia Hotel | Lazio Palo Laziale – Ladispoli

Photo by www.postavecchiahotel.com

Dating back to 1640, this ancient villa right on the Tyrrhenian Sea is located just a few kilometers from the center of Rome and is the perfect venue for a seaside wedding. Built on Roman ruins, the villa today houses a small museum that displays the archaeological findings unearthed during excavations. Today a 5-star hotel, the villa originally belonged to the Orsini family, later becoming the home of magnate Paul Getty, who embellished the interiors with priceless artefacts from the world over. It’s wonderfully authentic, packed with charm, history and art, offering a variety of spaces to host receptions, including a private beach and a library that lends itself perfectly to parties. There’s also a private helipad within the grounds.

Hotel Il Pellicano | Tuscany Località Sbarcatello – Porto Ercole

Photo by tr-images.condecdn.net

A favorite among the international jet set and captured numerous times by celebrated photographer of yesteryear glamour Slim Aarons, Hotel Il Pellicano is one of the best hotels in the world, perfectly encapsulating timeless Italian elegance and discreet luxury in a rugged corner of Tuscany’s Argentario Coast. Enjoying a fabulous location on a cliff overlooking the sea, the hotel oozes La Dolce Vita vibes. It’s the perfect setting for glamorous receptions, which can be held at the trendy beach club, by the legendary swimming pool, or in the verdant gardens. Before your big day, relax and unwind with massages and personalized beauty treatments at the Pelliclub.

Faro Capo Spartivento | Sardinia Viale Spartivento – Chia

Photo by www.farocapospartivento.com

Suspended between heaven and earth, Capo Spartivento is a lighthouse turned luxury guesthouse overlooking a protected marine area. It comprises two buildings: the Lighthouse and the historic Semaforisti Residence, a former lightkeepers’ cottage. Commissioned by King Victor Emmanuel II and built by the Navy in the mid 19th century, this military structure was repeatedly shot at by American WWII planes – machine gun bullet holes can still be seen today in the building walls. Beautifully restored, Faro Capo Spartivento is today a 5-star hotel offering guests utmost privacy and dramatic sea views, making it the perfect setting to host an exclusive wedding.

Eco del Mare | Liguria Località Maramozza, 4 – Lerici

Photo by www.ecodelmare.it

Nestled in the Golfo dei Poeti (Gulf of the Poets) in a pretty cove lapped by crystal clear waters, Eco del Mare is a small boutique hotel and beach club that seamlessly blends in with the natural environment. Secluded and difficult to access, it offers a chic, intimate and laidback atmosphere with organic charm, where you can unwind to the rhythmic lull of the waves and enjoy authentic Ligurian dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. Offering a gracefully elegant and romantic setting, it’s the perfect hideaway for an informal, free-spirited summer wedding.

Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo | Sicily Via Teatro Greco, 59 – Taormina

Photo by www.belmond.com

With its winding roads, ancient ruins and sweet scent of lemons, sunny Taormina is home to the Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo, the first sophisticated hotel built in the heart of town opposite the Greek Theatre. Offering spectacular views of the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, the hotel is calm and elegant, with tastefully decorated interiors embellished with antique furnishings recalling an aristocratic Sicilian residence. There’s plenty to keep guests busy, from wine tastings to helicopter rides. Suitable for medium-sized ceremonies, the hotel can be hired on an exclusive use basis.

 

Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea | Sicily Via Nazionale, 137 – Taormina Mare

Photo by www.belmond.com

Immersed in lush subtropical vegetation, Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea retains the charm of a private residence combined with all the comforts and services of a luxury hotel. It’s home to an outdoor bar, spa, private beach with cabanas, and dining outlets serving exquisite local dishes. Built by a noble family in 1919, the hotel’s elegantly furnished interiors with natural features are embellished with local ceramics and crafts. For a fairytale Sicilian seaside wedding, you could opt for a lavish fish-based banquet, a traditional Sicilian folk band, and personalized place cards shaped like a tambourine.

Hotel Pitrizza | Sardinia Costa Smeralda – Porto Cervo

Photo by www.marriott.com

In Porto Cervo in the heart of the Costa Smeralda, Hotel Pitrizza is a refined hotel built by architect Luigi Vietti in 1963, offering a divine setting with service to match. The hotel is surrounded by turquoise waters, white-sand beaches and wild Mediterranean vegetation (‘pitrizza’ translates as ‘small stone’ in local dialect). Built with local materials and featuring grass roofs, the resort harmoniously blends in with the surrounding natural environment. It’s home to luxurious suites and private villas with swimming pools, offering newlyweds and guests utmost privacy thanks to its remote location.

Hotel Cala di Volpe | Sardinia Costa Smeralda – Porto Cervo

Photo by www.marriott.com

Overlooking one of the most beautiful bays of the Costa Smeralda, Hotel Cala di Volpe was built in the 1960s to resemble a local fishing village. It exudes a private retreat vibe thanks to its rustic and sophisticated features, including granite porches and floors, and terracotta roofs and turrets. Surrounded by juniper trees and echoing the soft earthy hues of the surrounding landscape, the hotel is an exclusive spot much loved by the international elite. Couples can host celebrations or Hebrew weddings in the lush gardens or on the charming wooden pier, and host lively receptions at Bar Pontile, where scenes of the James Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me were shot. The Hotel offers the perfect setting to host live music shows and performances.

Domaine de Murtoli | Corsica Vallée de l’Ortolo – Sartène

Photo by www.murtoli.com

This wonderful secret hideaway lies just outside the Italian border in southern Corsica’s Valle dell’Ortolo. Occupying an area of over 6000 acres, the Domaine de Murtoli is a wonderfully magical spot to seal your love and create unforgettable memories. It offers a unique landscape, where the sea, rivers, beaches, fields, woods and mountains meet, with animals grazing on areas of rich meadow pasture home to farms producing seasonal, locally grown specialties. Offering utmost privacy and all the comforts of a modern hotel, accommodation is in rustic-chic buildings – formerly shepherds and farmers’ huts – spread out kilometers from one another over a vast area of land. Boho souls can host barefoot ceremonies on the beach, while the elegant candle-lit restaurant set in a cave with natural terraces offers unforgettable views of the moon-kissed bay.