For many couples, a beach is among their most fantasized wedding locations. And it’s easy to see why: picture a gorgeous sunset in the horizon, feel the soft sand touching your feet and the cool sea breeze caressing your skin…
Seaside weddings in Italy have become more popular and requested over the years. The boot offers a ton of stunning natural locations by the sea, which can be combined with warm weather and excellent cuisine to create the perfect laid-back wedding ceremony and party atmosphere.
When it comes to Italy, “the usual suspects” are the regions of Sicily, Apulia and Tuscany. We have covered them in a previous blog post called “Top locations for beach and boat weddings in Italy”, highlighting some off-the-beaten-track spots within each.
But what about tying the knot in other regions? After all, the boot features an amazing and long coastline, and as time passes more local administrations are granting permits that allow couples to get married on the beach.
Today we want to tell you about beautiful beach wedding locations in the regions of Lazio, Campania and Emilia Romagna.
Lazio: beach wedding between history and myth
The coast of Lazio is mainly composed of sandy beaches, dotted by the promontories of Circeo and Gaeta to the south of Rome. We recommend the southern coastline, as towns are more charming and the water is clean (while this might not always be the case in the more industrialized northern littoral). The further south you reach, beyond the flats of the Pontine Marshes and Monte Circeo, the shoreline begins to crease into cliffs and coves that hint gently at the glories of Campania.
One of our favorite hidden gems for a beach wedding in Lazio is Sperlonga, a town built high on a rocky promontory, featuring whitewashed houses, arched alleys and stepped narrow streets. There are beaches on either side of Sperlonga’s headland: a long beach on its west side goes all the way to the pretty town of Terracina, and a series of short beaches and rocky cliffs alternate on its east side towards Gaeta.
Sperlonga is a great choice for a seaside wedding not only because of its natural beauty and location, but because it allows for a cultural and historic experience to be enjoyed, making the destination wedding a truly experiential and enriching journey for both the newlyweds and their guests.
Authentic local activities include visiting the WWF nature reserve; and exploring the ruins of an ancient Roman Villa, the legendary Grotto of Tiberius and the National Archeological Museum, where you can admire statues from the 4th century BC, highly realistic masks from plays and the reconstruction of a large group depicting the punishment inflicted by Ulysses on the cyclops, Polyphemus.
Your seaside wedding in southern Lazio can be themed around local myths and legends, which include tales of the Trojan hero Aeneas, Mezentius of the Etrucans, Queen Amata of the Latins, and sorceress Circe. How fun and unique would that be?!
Campania: breathtaking nature for a spectacular wedding
The region of Campania is the gateway to the south of Italy and has been enjoyed as a vacation spot since ancient times. Its gulfs, bays and rocky cliffs give the coastline some unbelievable vistas. Furthermore, the region stretches over a wonderfully varied part of Italy, covering coastal areas as well as fertile and beautiful plains further inland, embracing the peace and picturesque tranquility of its ancient towns, with the furies and glories of Mount Vesuvius.
You have certainly heard of the famous Amalfi Coast, which is a very requested destination for seaside weddings. If you would like a location that is just as stunning, but less crowded and more accessible, you should consider the Sorrentine Peninsula.
The area has a landscape that is unique in the world, alternating low and high hills, deep valleys and majestic mountains, colorful villages and terraces cultivated with orange and lemon trees, olive groves and vineyards. The mild and dry climate for most part of the year makes Sorrento the ideal destination even during the off-peak season. It’s no surprise that the Sorrentine Peninsula was loved by Goethe, Nietzsche, Wagner and many poets and artists.
For couples who love nature and who have friends that love it too, a beach wedding in the Sorrento Peninsula can combine the romantic experience with eco-friendly activities, such as hiking along the mesmerizing trails of the Lattari Mountains. Sea lovers can also enjoy an adventure by swimming to the scuba divers’ sanctuary at Vervece Rock, which features a little bronze Madonna statue at 15 meters deep.
If you want to celebrate nature even during your wedding reception, one idea is to pay homage to the gifts of the local land: theme your special day around lemons and the sea for an explosion of colors and scents!
Emilia Romagna: a historic wedding in foodie paradise
Emilia Romagna is one of the most famous Italian regions when it comes to its local culinary delights and a lively riviera. Moreover, it offers a wealth of fascinating cultural and artistic attractions, and it “infects” you with its vibrant energy.
Not only is Emilia Romagna well-known for its beach resorts, it was one of the pioneering regions in allowing permits for beach weddings in Italy. As a consequence, it also has some of the most organized venues that can provide solutions for a beach wedding even in case of rain in any season.
The main tourist resorts here are Rimini, Cattolica, Cesenatico, Misano Adriatico, and Bellaria-Igea Marina. But if you are looking for a gem that is off the beaten track, consider the coastal town of Marina di Ravenna. Immersed in a luxuriant pinewood within a nature reserve, this place is appreciated for its restaurants serving traditional fish specialities. It hosts the National Museum of Underwater Activities (currently the first and only museum of this kind in Italy) and the marina for the nearby town of Ravenna.
Emilia Romagna is one of the most versatile Italian regions: not only does it offer a coastline that is also known as “The Riviera of Fun”, it also treasures amazing historic sites. One example? Ravenna: it was the capital city of the Western Roman Empire; the capital of the Ostrogoth Kingdom; it formed the center of the Byzantine Exarchate, and it also became the seat of the Kingdom of the Lombards. And it is the location of eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites!
Just imagine how enriching and delightful your destination wedding can be for you and your loved ones, when you can combine culture, art, delicious gastronomy and the local historic hospitality during your Italian special occasion!
