5 of the Best Wedding Venues in the Fairytale City of Florence
One of the most popular destinations to plan a wedding in Italy, Florence has an absolute abundance to offer and stays in many people’s hearts for good reason. As a city steeped in art, culture and stunning architecture, it has a lovely buzz to it that’s balanced out by its large expanse of public and private gardens dotted throughout the city. Add to that the delicious food and the impressive Tuscan wines, it’s a hard location to resist. Plus, if you really want to embrace the Italian lifestyle through your wedding day, it’s the perfect starting point for a honeymoon in Italy, perhaps on the Amalfi Coast or by the lakes.
Below we’ve rounded up 5 of our favourite venues in Florence to get you inspired.
RELATED: Don’t forget to take a look at our wedding venue recommendations in Lake Garda, Rome, Puglia, Lake Como, Tuscany, Sicily, Venice, Sorrento and Amalfi Coast.
1. Castello Di Vincigliata
Nestled in the hills of Fiesole, the stunning Castello Di Vincigliata has amazing views over Florence whilst still being close to the city centre itself. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves that look lovely against the ancient brickwood of the castle, you can enjoy a memorable ceremony in their gardens followed by an outdoor reception in their inner courtyard with up to 300 of your guests. Come nighttime, the venue is beautifully lit by torches, adding the final romantic cherry on top to this spot.
2. Villa Cora
Surrounded by its own formal gardens whilst also overlooking the beautiful Boboli Gardens, the 5 star Villa Cora has recently been restored to its former glory and makes for a decadent wedding venue. Celebrate your ceremony in their lovely gardens, on the roof terrace or in their Card Room, a private area that’s dedicated to tranquil relaxation, afternoon tea and reading. Follow this up with cocktails in the formal gardens and a reception within one of the stunning rooms in the venue. Choose from the Moresque Room for more intimate weddings of up to 24 guests, or the Mirror Hall for up to 90 guests.
3. Villa Maiano
Set within the hills between Fiesole and Florence and overlooking the cityscape, the elegant Villa Maiano is surrounded by nearly 300 hectares of land. The venue is made up of a main villa and a farmhouse that operates as both a location for crafting organic olive oil and guest accommodation. Ceremonies can be held within their Italian Oak Garden, in a private Chapel in the grounds or within the halls of the villa. Afterwards enjoy a reception either within the main house, on the garden terrace with views over Florence or within the Italian gardens, whilst dining on delicious Italian dishes with touches of Tuscan tradition imbued within them. The venue can host up to 250 of your guests or 300 outside and you can party well into the early hours, with a late license until 1.30am.
4. Villa La Fontanelle
Set at a particularly lovely vantage point in the hills with views over the city, Villa La Fontanelle was originally a farm in the 15th century before it became property of the Medici family, who gifted it to a famous member of the Florentine Umanesim. Since then it has been beautifully restored and provides a pretty location for a wedding, surrounded by two and a half acres of private grounds. Host your ceremony on their lawn within the secluded park followed by cocktails in the Italian garden and dinner on the outdoor panoramic terrace. The venue can seat 100-150 guests outside and 60 guests inside if you’d like to make use of their internal rooms for more intimate weddings. It is also home to a 5 star luxury hotel with 7 elegant suites, private parking, a pool, a BBQ area and a lovely greenhouse sitting room.
5. Four Seasons Hotel
As to be expected from a Four Seasons Hotel, this wedding venue benefits from being in a premium location, with the cathedral, the Uffizi Gallery and the Academia only 15 minutes walk from the hotel whilst also being surrounded by the city’s largest private park, giving you the best of both worlds. Host your ceremony in either their Duomo View or Tempio gardens followed by a reception outside on the Conventino terrace or inside the Conventino ballroom, with the option of further rooms within the hotel for more intimate weddings. With a well-loved Michelin starred restaurant on site, they’ll work with you to customise a menu to meet your tastes and the hotel sommelier will help recommend the best wine pairings too. The hotel also benefits from a decadent two floor spa complete with 9 treatment rooms, a Turkish bath and gym, and opens up onto an upper pool terrace.