Regions of Italy - LAZIO! How could we not begin here? It has Rome the "eternal city", the centre of the world for so many centuries, whose beauty is undeniable and that all of us at Passaggi have a special link to (Giulia was born and grew up there, Sarah lived there for many years and it's been her favourite Italian city since she first came to Italy as a student, and Clarissa has lived there for over 30 years).
Bridegroom with his groomsmen in front of the Pantheon in Rome. Photo by Light & Dreams
Here we see the best men using very Italian hand gestures in front of the Pantheon, one of the wonders of the ancient world that you will still amaze you today.
One of our favourite venues in Rome has to be Villa Aurelia. At the top of the Gianiculum it commands some of the best views over Rome. It is a stunningly beautiful villa with gorgeous outdoor spaces with terraces, a lemon garden, and a secret garden. Perfect if you are looking for a sophisticated and stylish wedding venue! This is from their website: ”Villa Aurelia, property of the American Academy in Rome, from the time of its construction has assumed various names accompanying changes in ownership: Villa Farnese, Villa Borbone, Villa Giraud, Villa Savorelli, Villa Heyland. The Villa was built by Cardinal Girolamo Farnese (1599 – 1668) atop the Gianiculum, along the Aurelian walls close to Porta San Pancrazio. The property had belonged to Pope Paolo III as part of the Farnese family vineyards."
Villa Aurelia in Rome
But there’s a lot more to Lazio than Rome despite it often being overlooked by visitors. One example of a fantastic place to get married in Lazio is Castello Ruspoli. It's in the town of Vignanello in the province of Viterbo. Its long history involves all the important noble families of the area - Orsini, Farnese, Aldobrandini and Borgia - as well as the Marescotti-Ruspoli family who lend it their name and can count 15 popes. Ottavia Orsini, daughter of Vicino Orsini who commissioned the "Park of Monsters" in nearby Bomarzo, had the beautiful Renaissance-style hanging garden built. The building as seen today is by Sangallo il Giovane and the garden was designed by Jacopo Barozzi da Vignola, both very important 16th-century architects. Handel spent much time and composed many of his Italian cantatas here between 1706 and 1709. So, this is an ideal venue for the history, Italian garden, or classical music lover!
Castello Ruspoli
As well as these elegant venues, Lazio also has many charming villas in the countryside which offer many possibilities of where to have your wedding ceremony in their extensive grounds. Some, such as Borgo di Tragliata, Casale Doria Pamphili or Casale del Gallo are also very easy to get to from Rome’s airports, which can make it really easy for your guests.
