Getting Married in Liguria
Cliff villages, terraced gardens and a rail-linked coast on the Ligurian Sea. Liguria is a narrow coastal strip between the Alps and the Mediterranean, running from the French border at Ventimiglia to La Spezia. Villages perch on cliffs, gardens are terraced above the water, and olives and vines grow on steep slopes.
Cliff villages, terraced gardens and a rail-linked coast on the Ligurian Sea
The coast has two halves. The Riviera di Levante, east of Genoa, takes in Santa Margherita, Portofino and the Cinque Terre. The Riviera di Ponente, to the west, is quieter and less photographed, with larger villa properties and a mild climate that once drew European royalty.
Portofino and the Cinque Terre have their own guides. This guide covers the wider region: the hilltop villages inland, the Gulf of Poets and the western riviera from Alassio to San Remo. Liguria suits smaller weddings, for couples who want privacy above the sea.
When to marry, and what to arrange
The season
When to Get Married
The Riviera di Ponente has the mildest winter climate in Italy and a long shoulder season. The Cinque Terre are under heavy day-trip pressure in July and August, and are much calmer in early June or late September. October stays warm enough for outdoor ceremonies, with autumn colour in the hinterland.
Recommended wedding months
May, June, September
Peak season is July, August, and the shoulder months are April, October.
Settings, travel and stays
Choosing a Setting
Clifftop villa. Villas built into terraced gardens above the sea, reached by stone steps or a private lane. The ceremony sits above the water, and garden rooms on several levels separate the phases of the day.
Converted abbey. Several historic religious buildings are available for ceremonies and private events. The Abbey of San Fruttuoso near Portofino can be reached only by boat or on foot, and private access is licensed through the FAI.
Riviera palazzo. Large historic villas on the western riviera with formal nineteenth-century gardens, built by European aristocrats for long stays. Some remain in family ownership and offer full estate hire.
Hilltop village space. In the hinterland above the Cinque Terre, village piazzas, loggias and restored municipal buildings are licensed for small ceremonies and receptions. The village osteria becomes the reception venue and the stone square the dance floor.
Getting There
The coastal railway links Ventimiglia, San Remo, Alassio, Savona, Genoa, Santa Margherita and La Spezia. Trains are frequent and often faster than the road in peak season. The Cinque Terre villages have no car access, so trains and boats are the only routes, and boat transfers should be part of the itinerary.
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo (GOA). The main Ligurian airport, with limited international routes, mostly European. It is the default gateway for local connections and less useful for intercontinental guests.
Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE). The best long-haul option for western Riviera weddings, with strong North American connections. It is the most convenient international gateway for the Riviera di Ponente.
Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA). Good European connections, including low-cost routes. It is a practical gateway for the eastern riviera and the Gulf of Poets.
Milan Malpensa (MXP). Suits intercontinental guests who then continue by high-speed train or road to Genoa and along the coast.
Where Guests Stay
The Italian Riviera curves from the French border to La Spezia, with resort towns, Belle Époque hotels and clifftop gardens within reach of Nice and Genoa airports.
San Remo. A flower-growing town with a casino, a historic centre and several sea-facing hotels. It is relatively quiet outside its annual music festival.
Bordighera and Ospedaletti. The westernmost towns, near the French border, are smaller than San Remo. Edwardian-era villas here are hired exclusively for ceremonies.
Genova. The regional capital and a UNESCO site, where the medieval lanes and the Palazzo Ducale provide city venues for couples who want a city ceremony near the coast.
Lerici and Gulf of Poets. At the eastern end of Liguria, a quieter and more literary area. Shelley spent time here, and the castle above the bay of Lerici has a long record of events.
Good to know
Food and Drink
Ligurian cooking draws on herb gardens and the sea, and makes the most of simple ingredients on a mountainous coast with little flat farmland.
Pesto Genovese. Basil sauce ground by hand in a marble mortar with olive oil, pine nuts, garlic, Parmigiano and Pecorino. The protected Genovese basil grown above Genoa is what separates the authentic version.
Focaccia Genovese. A dimpled, oil-rich flatbread eaten at any time of day. The Recco version, filled with fresh stracchino cheese, is sold by the slice along the riviera.
Burrida. A fish stew of dogfish or ray in a sauce of pine nuts, walnuts, anchovies and capers. It is an old Genoese dish that predates tomatoes.
Good to Know
Nice airport. Nice in France is a more practical long-haul gateway than Genoa for guests flying in from outside Europe, and it serves the western riviera. The high-speed train from Paris also stops at Nice, which gives a no-fly route from the UK via Eurostar.
Villa Hanbury Gardens. The Hanbury Botanical Gardens at Mortola Inferiore, close to the French border, are owned by the University of Genova. Permits for events go through the university's estates office rather than a commercial venue company.
Genoa airport and the motorway. Genoa handles direct flights from London and several European hubs. Transfers to the western riviera depend on traffic on the A10, and Friday afternoon arrivals can be slow.
Flowers from San Remo. San Remo is a major cut-flower market in Europe. If fresh flowers are part of the decoration, buying locally through the flower market can cost less than shipping from Milan or Turin.
Marrying legally and entry rules
The legal requirements for marrying here, and who needs a visa, are being checked and are not published yet. Confirm both with the official authority that will marry you before you book.
Planners, photographers, florists and musicians who work in Liguria
Is Liguria better for smaller weddings?
Yes. The cliff villas, hilltop village spaces and abbey settings are intimate by nature. For larger events, the villas near San Remo and Bordighera on the western riviera have the scale.
How do wedding guests get along the Ligurian coast?
By train and by boat. The coastal railway is the fastest and most reliable option for most journeys, and often beats the road in peak season. In the Cinque Terre, trains and passenger ferries are the only options. Boat transfers between coastal towns can be arranged for wedding parties.
Is Nice a workable airport for a Ligurian wedding?
Yes. For weddings on the western riviera, Nice airport has much better long-haul connections than Genoa. Guests from the Cote d'Azur can come by road, train or boat.
What does a Ligurian wedding menu look like?
It differs from the rest of Italy. Pesto Genovese began here, along with several forms of focaccia, fresh anchovies, the morning's catch and the white wines of the riviera slopes.
Do outdoor receptions in Liguria face noise limits?
Yes. Most coastal municipalities require amplified music to end by midnight, and some cliff and hillside venues set earlier cutoffs because of nearby homes. Acoustic arrangements such as a string quartet or jazz trio often suit a cliff garden reception better than a full sound system.
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How We Compiled This Guide
This guide draws on the venues' own published details, official sources and the knowledge of our editors. Entry and legal information can change, so confirm it with the authority that will marry you before you book.