St. Peter’s Basilica
The most famous wedding destination in Rome – well, technically in Vatican City. Couples who want to marry at St. Peter’s Basilica must ask their local parish priest to write a letter making the request on their behalf. Only a limited number of ceremonies are performed each year – in the Cappella del Coro, or Choir Chapel – but if accepted additional services such as musicians, flowers and photographers can only be provided by pre-approved vendors. Jump through these hoops though, and the rewards are great – the chapel is decorated with precious marble, golden embroidery and a moving canvas depicting the Immaculate Conception.
St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City
St. Peter’s Basilica | © blisniak/Pixabay
Villa Appia Antica
Located along the Via Appia Antica – one of ancient Rome’s most important roads – the luxury Villa Appia Antica is set among verdant parkland dotted with quintessentially Roman umbrella pines and long-established oak trees. The winter garden and halls of the villa provide plenty of indoor space but, weather permitting, the lucky couple can opt to have the whole shindig outside. The soft glow of candles and lanterns make this serene setting even more fairytale-like after dark.
Villa Appia Antica, Via Appia Antica, 288 a, Rome, Italy +39 067184815
Santa Maria in Tempulo
Also known as the Vignola Mattei Complex, Santa Maria in Tempulo is a deconsecrated 11th-century convent church tucked away behind the Baths of Caracalla. Unassuming from the outside, the ex-church boasts a pared down interior that accentuates the building’s rustic features. The wooden beams, elegant archways and original stone walls provide a simple but tasteful backdrop to the civil ceremonies that take place here.
Santa Maria in Tempulo, Via di Valle delle Camene, Caracalla, Rome, Italy +39 06 0608
Sala Rossa at Capitoline Hill
The Campidoglio, or Capitoline Hill, is one of the seven hills of Rome and home to the City Hall and the treasure-packed Capitoline Museums. Inside one of the palazzi that stand in this Michelangelo-designed square is the Sala Rossa, or Red Room. The opulent red interiors with ornate gold detailing cement this location’s status as a formal and luxurious wedding venue and the opportunity for photos in the stunning hilltop piazza make the spot even more desirable.
Sala Rossa, Palazzo Conservatori, Via del Campidoglio, 8, Rome, Italy
Piazza del Campidoglio and its Renaissance buildings | © Antonella Profeta/Flickr
Basilica di Santa Sabina all’Aventino
One of four churches nestled on the Aventine Hill, the Basilica of Santa Sabina is famed for its 5th-century wooden doors carved with scenes from the Bible – including a panel with one of the earliest surviving depictions of the crucifixion. Considered a prime example of early Christian architecture, the church is less ornate than other places of worship in Rome but no less beautiful for it. The fact that it’s situated next-door to the Giardino degli Aranci, which has spectacular views across Rome, is the icing on the cake for this wedding venue.
Basilica di Santa Sabina all’Aventino, Piazza Pietro D’Illiria, 1, Rome, Italy +39 06 579401
The elegant interior of the Basilica di Santa Sabina | © ho visto nina volare/Flickr
Villa Miani
Built in 1837, Villa Miani was originally the residence of a noble Venetian family. The elegant neoclassical building sits atop Monte Mario – the highest hill in Rome – and affords a gorgeous vista of the Rome skyline that includes the dome of nearby St. Peter’s. With an open-air terrace, expertly manicured English-style gardens and enough banquet rooms to cater for any size wedding (from 40 to 500 guests), the villa really is an unforgettable setting for a Roman wedding.
Villa Miani, Via Trionfale, 151, Rome, Italy +39 06 3549 8707
Castello di Tor Crescenza
With roots that can be traced back to the 11th century, Castello di Tor Crescenza is a hot venue among Rome’s VIP crowd. Francesco Totti and his TV personality wife Ilary Blasi held their wedding reception at this extravagant venue in 2005 (after a ceremony at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli on the Campidoglio). He liked this turreted and ivy-clad castle so much that he chose it again in 2016 as the location of his 40th birthday celebrations.
Castello di Tor Crescenza, Via dei Due Ponti, 100, Rome, Italy +39 392 490 9872