Eloping in Italy Itinerary

Morning light washes over the marina where the small fishing vessels wade in the rippling water. The neoclassical façade of the Basilica of Saint Nicholas shimmers against the nearly 315-foot tall octagonal bell tower, often used as the symbol of Lecco. At breakfast, you bask in the beauty of your companion and the splendors of Lake Como before meeting your private driver in the lobby. The day is yours to explore the various towns around the shores of one of Italy’s most prominent lakes at your preferred pace. The waterway encompasses more than 55 square miles and reaches depths of nearly 1,400 feet. The Resegone peaks rise into the sky with jagged silver summits contrasting the blue hues.

The region boasts an ancient history dating back to Celtic origins and growing under Austrian and Spanish rule after the Medieval times. You make your way to Villa del Balbianello on the western banks of the lake to enjoy a remarkable view of the water. The estate was erected in the 18th century combining art and nature for an unparalleled ambiance. A half-mile long wooden walkway leads from the main piazza in Leno to the cinematic image of the villa featured in the 2006 version of Casino Royale as well as in scenes from Star Wars Episode II.  The renaissance gardens create a perfectly romantic atmosphere shaded by lush trees and filled with the seductive aromas of blossoming tulips and roses.

The day begins with the familiar aroma of espresso and deliciously sweet brioche made fresh daily in the bakeries around town. The sunlight shimmers across the water of Lake Como, Italy’s third-largest lake. In the town of Como, the 14th-century cathedral’s façade shines with gothic intensity through carved marble stone, remarkable statues, and a grand rose window. The structure embodies Italy’s fascinating transition from Gothic to Renaissance architectural styles. Whether you are in the mood to continue exploring the stunning edges of the lake and its enchanting towns or to indulge in the embrace of your lover, the day is yours for a romantic elopement.

Blend marriage, Italian passion, and picturesque scenery at the 17th-century castle situated between Lecco and Brianza. A vineyard overtakes the terraces texturing the promontory upon which the castle sits. Italian poet and novelist, Alessandro Manzoni, used the castle as inspiration for his masterwork, The Betrothed, and placed the Unnamed within the structure’s grand walls. In spring and autumn, the gardens blossom adding to the majestic ambiance above the waters of Lake Como and creating the perfect setting for a fairytale wedding surrounded by the prominent peaks of the Italian Alps. If you choose, instead, to sightsee more around the gorgeous landscapes, you can take the funicular to Brunate, a small town located on the steep cliffs directly above the town of Como. A café sits on the precipitous terrace and provides an unrivaled panorama.

The morning light spreads over the botanical gardens at Hotel Villa Cipressi, located in Varenna. Ferns, lupines, and carnations grow along the banks of a rippling pond, framing elegant footbridges and tranquil walking paths for a quiet place to pronounce your affections. After breakfast, your private transfer greets you at the hotel and escorts you southeast towards the magnificent city of Venice. You stop en route in the town of Verona to meet with the ambassador of love, Juliet Capulet from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The scent of chocolates and marzipan emanates from the confectionaries near the main square of Piazza Delle Erbe. A bronze statue of the passionate heroine glints in the sunlight beneath the dangling vines in the courtyard and letters to Juliet decorate the tunnel leading into the interior garden. You can climb up to the balcony for a sweet, soft embrace blessed forever by the figure of Juliet, who eloped with her beloved Romeo. You continue to the city of Padua, which is often overlooked by visitors to Italy. The stunning city stood beneath the protection of the Venetian Republic for centuries, which added elaborate palaces and stunning artwork to the cobbled lanes.

The university draws students from around Europe through its prestigious claim as the second oldest university in Italy, dating back to the early 13th century. Italian icons such as Dante, Petrarch, and Galileo attended lectures in the grand hall. The aroma of fresh risotto with cream filters through the restaurants. You enter the Cappella Degli Scrovegni, which helped usher Italian art into a new aesthetic known as the Renaissance. The faint scent of frankincense lingers in the vacuum-sealed chapel, and the ceiling imitates the sky with rich blue and golden starlight. Celebrated artist Giotto was the first to depict the lives of biblical figures with human characteristics, arranging the stories from left to right.

You rise before the gondolas are unmoored from the edges of the canal. Vaporettos, Venetian water busses, continue to weigh anchor outside of the city, filling the waterways and labyrinthine cobbled lanes in ethereal tranquility. You meet your guide in the hotel lobby before dawn, passing the famed Rialto Bridge as it glints in the gentle glow of the street lamps. The historic market begins to rustle with fisherpeople and farmers unloading their barges to set up their stands for locals.

You notice the marble plaque on the wall and learn it states the rules and regulations of the marketplace dating back to the 17th century. The romantic atmosphere of Venice at rest allows you to wander alongside the exquisite marble facades of the historic palaces and hear the water lapping against the wooden plinths and stone canals. The sunlight peeks above the homes in the east and casts a golden orange over the horizon, and the stunning gilded mosaics on the face of St. Mark’s Basilica shimmer with the returning light. Bulbous domes reach more than 140 feet into the air, striking a dramatic figure bordering the eponymous piazza.

Cafes set out tables and chairs amidst the aroma of chocolate and the caramel notes of brewing espresso. The doors to the Doge’s Palace open, welcoming you and your guide into the grand design of the remarkable architecture. In the belly of the cool, damp prison, your guide tells you the story of the legendary Venetian lover, Casanova, who was interned in the infamous jail before a fascinating escape.

The day is yours to relish the beauty and charms in the spirit of Venetian grandeur. If you did not decide to exchange vows at Lake Como, you could embrace the legendary romance of Venice with a fabulous wedding at the Palazzo Cavalli. The formal staircase provides a dramatic scene in which to walk down, framed by marble banisters beneath the vaulted ceiling. The palace was erected in the late 16th century with a Venetian Gothic style overlooking the rippling waters of the Grand Canal. Gondolas and boats moor on the private dock and the poetic words of your ceremony echo in the grand rooms designed to impress visitors from around the world.

If you choose not to have your ceremony today, you can meet your private boat on your hotel’s dock and cruise to the fabulous islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello. In the late afternoon, you travel up the Brenta Canal to reach the 18th-century Villa Ducale, the former palace of the Venetian duke located on the outskirts of the city. The exclusive experience engrosses you in the elegance and grace of the Venetian Republic with a welcoming aperitivo, cocktail hour. The relaxing but sumptuous ambiance fills with wine and the scent of simmering herbs and garlic. You sit at an elaborately dressed table to indulge in the grandeur of a multi-course feast modeled after the romantic and elaborate 16th-century meals of the republic.

The treasures of Tuscany emerge from the emerald-colored hills in the form of enchanting hilltop towns swathed in golden stone. Your private transfer greets you near the docks of the Grand Canal and escorts you to the historic center of Florence, the cradle of the Italian Renaissance. The marvelous artwork and grand palaces of the city continue to decorate the cobbled lanes and grand piazzas. The tower of Palazzo Vecchio stands nearly 310 feet tall. The echo of Dante lingers in stone through decorative plaques labeling neighborhoods mentioned in the epic poet’s Divine Comedy. The rosy brick dome of the cathedral accentuates the pink, green, and white marble of the façade.

After wandering through the streets and passing through the elaborate leather and silk goods of the San Lorenzo Market, you enter the splendid whitewashed walls of the Galleria dell’Accademia. The museum features marvelous works of mastery including the largest collection of Stradivarius instruments. You enter into the main hall crowned by Michelangelo’s staggering masterpiece David. The figure stands 17 feet tall and poses with immaculate musculature. You half-expect the figure to breathe and step down from his podium or for a gentle breeze to rustle through his curly hair.

You continue into the countryside to reach the hidden town of Monteverdi. The villa provides a view over the idyllic rolling hills and cypress trees of Tuscany stretching into the forested slopes spreading south. The classic ambiance leads you to a romantic restaurant inside a 17th-century space lit by the pleasant glow of lamps. The chef highlights traditional Tuscan fare while surprising guests with never-before tasted delights inspired by the beauty of the day.

If you have been waiting for your time in Tuscany to exchange vows, then you have arrived in the perfect place to celebrate your love. Marvelous villas overlook blanketing vineyards, and olive orchards border bright meadows. Medieval towns crown the hillsides providing opulent views from private terraces or a grand backdrop from the opposite summits. If the last days of your Italian tour have become your grand honeymoon, then take the day to discover the fabled towns and villages peppering the landscape, beginning in mesmerizing Montepulciano. The promontory reaches a height of nearly 2,000 feet above sea level, turning the quiet town into a beacon above the emerald landscape.

Vineyards filled with red grapes provide a mixture of aromatics and wine shops promoting the delicious local vintages line the narrow, cobblestone streets. The rustic Tuscan beauty features red-brick and terracotta edifices leading to Piazza Grande and the marble façade of the cathedral. Archways cast shadows over the winding alleyways leading to views of the pine and cypress woods. Duck into one of the wine shops to meet with a local eager to welcome you to town with a series of flavors drawn from around the countryside. He pours you a sample of the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, a red wine utilizing mainly Sangiovese grapes. You take your time to savor the wine, finding the scent of plum and sour cherry mixing with a hint of oregano.

You have experienced the passion of Italy by witnessing the preservation of history, the beauty of the scenery, and the dedication towards the cuisine. You choose to put the same effort into your romance, making every moment one of passion and dedication as emphasized by Italian culture. You have taken the time to elope into an enchanting affair but are not yet ready to leave. Keep the pleasures of your amorous getaway going by continuing to Rome or by relaxing on the Amalfi Coast as an added luscious honeymoon.