Reserve gorgeous venues for your luxury elopement with our editor's recommendations for elopement-friendly ceremony sites, plus three tiers of options for California honeymoon venues.
ITALY
Few places in the world evoke the idea of romance as effortlessly as Italy. Happily, it's not prohibitively difficult to legally marry there, so consider which region appeals most to you, and start planning your luxury elopement to Italia today.
MOST POPULAR AREAS
FLORENCE
The capital city of Tuscany, Florence, is renowned for its beauty and legendary for its art. Home to several of Italy's most famous museums, Florence boasts extraordinary works by Boticelli, da Vinci, and Michelangelo among others. The Uffizi Gallery and Accademia Gallery are two of the city's principal attractions, the latter being the institution that houses Michelangelo's legendary David.
ROME
The epic scale of Rome is awe inspiring, but be aware that a typical city is bustling behind the historic sites. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Forum are must-sees, but there are romantic hot spots in Rome as well. The Piazza Navona is a gorgeous city square with important architectural and sculptural works; the Lungotevere is a famous boulevard that features a dazzling view of the River Tiber; and the Trevi Fountain, featured in Fellini's La Dolce Vita, is a cultural landmark known the world round.
VENICE
Venice, Italy, is unlike any other destination in the world. The network of canals and bridges that link the "The Floating City" give it an otherwordly ambiance that is incomparable. The legendary Grand Canal is lined with hotels, museums, land showrooms...a truly dazzling sight to behold. St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) features buildings that date back to the fourteenth century, and the relative ease with which Americans can marry there make it a prime location for a luxury elopement.
Photos: Marilyn Oliveira | Sources: City of Venice; Italian National Tourist Board; Italia; Italy Guides;
Official Tourism of Rome; VistFlorence.com; WhyGo Italy
ITALY MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS QUICK GUIDE
BLOOD TESTS: None
LOCAL CITIZENSHIP: Not Required
LOCAL RESIDENCY: Not Required
PROOF OF AGE: Required
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE: Not Legalized
WAITING PERIOD: None
MARRIAGE OFFICES:
Florence City Hall
Palazzo Vecchio
Tel: (+39 )055.276.8518/8370/
Rome City Hall
Via Petroselli 50
Tel: (+39) 06.6710.3066
Venice City Hall
Palazzo Cavalli - San Marco 4089
Tel: (+39) 041.274.8331/8832/8833
ITALY QUICK FACTS
AIRPORTS:
Florence - Peretola (FLR)
Rome - Fiumicino (FCO) or Ciampino (CIA)
Venice - Marco Polo (VCE)
CURRENCY: Euro (EUR)
LANGUAGE(S): Italian
HIGH SEASONS: September to October; April to Mid-July
LOW SEASONS: November to March; Mid-July to August
TIME ZONE: Central European Time Zone (CET)