Getting married in Siena

Getting married in Tuscany is always magical, but a wedding in Siena is a really a dream come true. UNESCO, after appointing Siena as a World Heritage Site, describes it as “a masterpiece of dedication and creativity in which every building was devised as a work of art that blends into the surrounding landscape”.

Therefore, Siena is a true piece of medieval art: who wouldn’t dream of getting married in such a jewel?

When somebody says Siena, we immediately think about the Palio: if this city is famous worldwide is because of this peculiar event. The Palio is the symbol of how deeply the heart of Siena is rooted in the Middle Ages, when the city achieved its peak. It’s an occasion that is still crucial today: even if it’s just a couple of days-long event, you can breathe The Palio in the streets of Siena every day. How beautiful would it be to get married right in the days of the festivities, maybe in medieval dresses?

Siena is so much more than the Palio, of course. Its architecture truly makes it an open-air museum and a perfect frame for your wedding pictures. Every building of the city centre is a masterpiece: from the Palazzo Comunale to the Torre del Mangia, from the Duomo to the Santissima Annunziata Basilica, from the Fonte Gaia to the numerous Renaissance palaces scattered around the centre ups and downs...and finally the magical Piazza del Campo, the true heart of the city.

WHERE TO GET MARRIED IN SIENA

When you plan your wedding, in Siena or somewhere else, the first step will be picking a location for the ceremony. This Tuscan city offers so many options that you’ll be spoilt for choice...with its churches full of art pieces and its historical buildings, there is something for every taste, whether you want a civil or a religious ceremony.

If you choose the latter, you will quickly notice how many churches in Siena (and in its surroundings) are ideal and evocative locations for your marriage. First of all, the Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral, the city’s absolute protagonist. With its Romanesque-Gothic style, it immediately catches the eye with its facade, but it’s the interior that will leave you and your guests speechless, thanks to its white and black marble. The Cathedral stores art pieces by all the greatest medieval and renaissance artists, Michelangelo included: can you imagine how wonderful would getting married in the Duomo of Siena be?

There several other churches where to get married in the centre of Siena, like the Santissima Annunziata Basilica, overlooking piazza del Duomo, but also the San Domenico Basilica, where Santa Caterina from Siena’s relics are kept (Italy’s Saint Patron, together with St. Francis) or San Francesco Basilica, with its white and green marble.

If you are looking for extremely evocative locations, you can choose the Basilica dell’Osservanza or San Clemente Basilica: they are both at the top of a hill from which you will enjoy a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding Green.

Those who want a civil ceremony don’t need to worry at all: there are many locations for this kind of wedding too. In the Palazzo del Comune, you could say your “Yes” under the frescoed ceiling of the Sala del Concistoro or of the sala of Palazzo Patrizi, or – if your getting married in the summer – in the elegant Loggia dei Nove. Or you can have your civil ceremony outside City Hall: the bastion of the Fortezza Medicea for medieval history lovers, the historical hall of the Biblioteca Comunale degli Intronati for avid readers or the Teatro dei Rinnovati for those who love acting and especially elegant locations.

There are many castles and villas too, perfect for celebrating your love and sharing it with your loved ones. In the area surrounding San Gimignano, for example, the Taverna di Bibbiano offers a breathtaking view of the renowned towers and of the Chianti Hills, famous for their lavender fields, vineyards, sunflowers and olive gardens. The marvelous park surrounding the Farmhouse is the ideal venue for an exclusive outdoor wedding.

If you are looking for a bohemian marriage, the perfect choice is the beautiful Lazy Olive Villa: a magical and charming place, where you’ll celebrate your love immersed in nature.

Are you country chic enthusiasts? Near the medieval town of Pienza you’ll find the Terre di Nano Farmhouse, with its estate stretching for about 50 hectares on the evocative Crete of Siena. Here, you can arrange a wedding based on tradition, family warmth, stunning views and - of course - excellent food!

If you have always dreamed of a luxury wedding in Tuscany, Relais La Suvera is the place for you: a wonderful historic Villa with nature, tradition and comfort in perfect balance. You will be able to relive an atmosphere of the past by saying your “Yes” inside one of the magnificent halls of the Villa or in its garden, or you can choose to get married inside the intimate and elegant private Chapel, if you are looking for a traditional religious ceremony.

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, inMontalcino, is another favourite place for couples who dream of a luxury wedding near Siena. An entire medieval village, completely restored, immersed in nature in Val D’Orcia with modern and luxurious amenities.

WHERE TO SHOOT THE MOST EVOCATIVE PHOTOS

To make your wedding even more special, besides picking carefully a location for it, it’s important to find a way to turn the most unforgettable moments into images that will last forever.

A wedding photographer, - and it could be me – will be able to recommend the best spots for your wedding pictures, being familiar with the area. If you haven’t already noticed, you are very lucky: Siena is a magnificent city, surrounded by a breathtaking landscape with its gentle hills that seem to stretch to infinity.

History lovers could opt for photos “stolen” in the narrow streets of the city centre or with the Renaissance palaces in the background. The characteristic burnt sienna will warmly embrace you and will be the distinctive feature of your romantic photos.

If you are nature lovers, instead, you could shoot your wedding photo shoot losing yourselves on the hills that surrounds Siena. The green of meadows, olive trees and grapevines, the gold of wheat fields in the summer, the soft white of the winter mist. Everything will highlight your genuine gestures of love. The energy around your wedding will inspire you to freely express the bond that you share - and I’ll be honored to be with you, to tell your story through my photos.

My style is sincere and direct: I use the momentum and the natural light around us, to take unique pictures. My goal is that your wedding photos in Siena don’t look like anybody else’s: they must be just about you and your love story!

WHY GETTING MARRIED IN SIENA?

• Because...who wouldn’t wish to get married inside a World Heritage Site?
• Because the locations for religious or civil ceremonies in Siena are stunning and more than capable satisfy all your needs.
• Because there is a Synagogue too, if you are looking for a Jewish wedding.
• Because its wines, cuisine and hospitality are unforgettable, like anywhere else in Tuscany.
• Because many celebrities got married in Siena, like Formula 1 pilot Kimi Raikkonen…and if they chose Siena, why not you?
• Because its Renaissance palaces create a one of a kind atmosphere.
• Because the surrounding hills will be a perfect set for your wedding photo shoot.
• Because I’ll be able to tell your most important day in a way that will be both unique and emotional, through my photos, giving you memories that will last forever.