Weddings in “Val d'Elsa, the famous valley between Florence and Siena!

Valleys have always been lines of communication, and one of the most famous of these valleys is the Val d'Elsa, the valley of the River Elsa.

The Elsa Valley is situated between the cities of Siena and Florence along the route of the old Via Francigena, the medieval highway of pilgrims travelling to Rome from northern Europe.

The valley is still belonging to the Chianti Area and offers beautiful views and itineraries. The area is famous for its ancient, fortified towns, its good wine, good oil and cold cuts.

Beside San Gimignano and Certaldo there are other famous towns like Colle Val d’Elsa, or Monteriggioni, a rare example for the medieval architecture.

Rich in tiny villages, parish churches and castles scattered here and there in the midst of the Tuscan countryside, its countless sights are a real delight to discover and will provide a lovely backdrop to your wedding photos.

Enjoy your great day surrounded by a wonderful mix of art, culture, history and nature!

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Weddings in San Gimignano, province of Siena

San Gimignano is known as the “Manhattan of Tuscany" due to the medieval towers that grace the skyline. There are still 14 of the original 71 towers that have survived. The towers were built by noble families as a display of power. Each tower had to surpass the next in height. The highest tower is the Torre Grossa or the Torre della Podestà, which is 54 m high. This is the tower of the present town hall that dates back to the year 1311.
San Gimignano not only thrives on tourism, but is also known for its dry white wine, the Vernaccia. From 1990 the historic center of San Gimignano is part of the world cultural heritage.



The town hall of San Gimignano is situated in the Palazzo del Popolo or Palazzo Nuovo del Podestà,
on the left side of the Piazza Duomo.
It is one of the most important buildings of the town, and accommodates also the Town Museum which has important paintings from the 14th and 15th century.
Civil weddings are celebrated in the beautiful “Sala di Dante”, where the famous “Maestà” of Lippo Memmi is located.

Only one wedding can be celebrated per day:
in the morning from Monday to Friday with the maximum of about 70 guests,
Otherwise on Saturday morning or on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon.

The costs for a civil wedding in the Sala di Dante: 1.100.00 Euro
(Situation May 2010)

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Weddings in Casole d'Elsa, province of Siena

This little nice village is situated on a hilltop and enjoys a stunning view over the Elsa Valley. It is certainly one of the less famous, but most atmospheric town in Tuscany.
Due to its strategic position in the upper Elsa Valley, Casole has always formed a bulwark for Siena and was strenuously defended against Volterra and Florence.
Already in the 12th century it had its own municipality with its major and councillors. After the battle of Montaperti in 1260 Casole was under the occupation of Florence, but after a short period moved to the Gibellines and Siena.
It still has the air of a final outpost with the traces of fortifications that emerge in several places and with its noble houses gradually adapted to the needs of man.

Most fascinating of all is the splendid Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta, almost all in brickwork, which was built on the ruins of a previous existing building dating back to 1161. It has continuously been transformed and touched-up ever since.
Very impressive is also the Court Palace with its carved coats-of-arms and the great Fortress dating back to 1352 reinforced by two unequal towers. The powerful walls encircling the village are mostly intact.

Casole d’Elsa offers a particular rarity: there is no advertising of any type in its streets, but as well the buildings as the little, narrow streets, alleyways and passages are richly decorated with flowers and little bronze works of art: you may meet a sitting girl on a park bench, a couple in a close embrace or a bronze “watchman” …

The seat of the Town Hall is located in the “ Rocca” with its unequal towers dating back to 1352.
The little square is decorated with bronze statues, marble busts and ceramic works of art.
The inside hosts a little exhibition of local artists and works of the children of Casole.

Civil weddings take place in the atrium of the Rocca, facing the nice and interesting square.
The wedding ceremony concludes with sparkling wine offered from the municipal authority to the spouses and their guests.
Costs: 520,00 Euro (situation May 2010)

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Church Weddings in the Elsa-Valley

There are many nice Parish Churches in this area, some of them make part of the locations we propose. Beside those, we strongly recommend you the very old Parish Church of Sant’Appiano. This Church is built in stone (11th century) and brick (12th century). The attached Antiquarium Museum contains various Etruscan finds and ceramics that come from the many excavation sites in the area.

Sant'Appiano is one of the most famous and enchanting Churches of Tuscany!

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Some examples and proposals for the wedding venue:

There are many splendid settings for weddings in the Val d'Elsa region. Here below you will find only a little selection of a few.
For further recommendations please contact us and we will send you a tailor-made list.

1. The old farmhouse is situated on a hilltop between San Gimignano and Certaldo, offering superb views across the neighbouring hills, where vineyards and olive groves mix with farms. Just pure, picture-perfect Tuscany!



The stone farm buildings have been carefully restored, maintaining its original rustic character with the advantage of modern comfort.
Today it is a family-run guesthouse with adorably decorated apartments and
guestrooms of varying sizes, available for up to 30 persons.


An especially private suite with a separate, splendid terrace is reserved for the spouses.





Patio terraces around the house with parasols and lounge chairs and the swimming-pool complete this charming holiday house and excellent venue for a wedding.

The warm and welcoming staff serves Tuscan meals on the terraces or in the restaurant and the wedding-dinner with the sunset will be one of the most romantic things one can imagine!
The wedding-party can go on without any time-limit in the garden or at the pool area.

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2. This charming and comfortable hotel is situated in the fascinating Tuscan countryside
close to San Gimignano.
The old watermill dating back to the 14th century has been carefully restored into a characteristic
bed and breakfast and is nowadays a historic building protected by the Belle Arti.

3. On the ancient “Via Francigena” one can find an oasis of tranquility: you be immersed in nature that is lavish and unaffected , the estate is situated on the soft hills in between San Gimignano and Certaldo.
The ancient buildings, once country houses of noble Tuscan families, were brought back to life through cautious renovation. The renovation was carried out with respect of the original architectural guidelines of the Tuscan countryside. This is a hamlet that offers peace and quiet.

The present structure consists of 16 holiday homes of different sizes, all carefully projected and decorated with a special eye for detail.
Among the shared facilities you will find a big porch called “la loggia” complete with barbecue and swimming pool. La loggia provides a lot of space for outdoor living and offers a beautiful view of the Tuscan hills and Chianti

Whether you book the entire hamlet or only a part of the holiday homes, you will find in any case the ideal circumstances for your family and friends in a cozy, yet stylish and refined atmosphere, amid the tranquility of the Tuscan hills.

The party may take place either outside or in the hall of the estate which hosts a large traditional Tuscan style fireplace.
The staff will offer complete professional service that is efficient, yet warm and personalized.

With a “personalized” menu of your choice, you will fully enjoy your most beautiful day!

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