Syracuse offers something no other Sicilian city can: a wedding on an island. Ortigia, the ancient heart of the city, is joined to the mainland by two short bridges and surrounded by the sea on every side, and within its few hundred metres of streets there are Greek temples, a cathedral, Baroque palazzi and terraces over the water.
Choosing a venue here starts with one decision: do you want to celebrate inside Ortigia, in the city's history, or around it, in the villas and estates that look back at the island from the coast and the countryside? Both are wonderful, and they lead to very different weddings and very different films.
This guide groups the best venues in and around Syracuse by setting, explains what each type does best, and adds the practical details that matter when you choose. For the city itself, its history and the best season, see our guide to getting married in Syracuse.
- Nearest airport
- Catania, about 45 minutes
- Venue types
- Ortigia palazzi and hotels, seafront villas, country estates
- Church ceremony
- The Cathedral of Syracuse, in Ortigia
- Book
- 12 to 18 months ahead for May, June and September
In Ortigia: History on Every Side
A wedding in Ortigia is a wedding in the street as much as in a building. Guests walk from the ceremony to the aperitivo through squares and alleys, the sea appears at the end of every road, and the whole island becomes part of the day. The limits are space and access: cars cannot reach every corner, and the largest rooms hold fewer guests than a country estate.
The Cathedral of Syracuse
Built around the columns of a Greek temple to Athena, which are still visible in its walls, the cathedral is one of the most extraordinary churches in the Mediterranean. Leaving it as a married couple, into the pale stone of Piazza Duomo, is one of the great moments a Sicilian wedding can offer.
Ortea Palace Hotel
A luxury hotel in the restored Palazzo delle Poste, an early twentieth-century landmark, with high ceilings, grand staircases and a rooftop terrace above the sea. It is the most practical way to have the old town and a full hotel infrastructure together, with guests staying a short walk from the cathedral.
Grand Hotel Ortigia
A classic hotel on the waterfront, with a terrace restaurant looking over the marina and the boats. It suits elegant, medium-sized dinners and couples who want the sea and the old town in the same frame.
Castello Maniace
A thirteenth-century Swabian fortress at the end of the island. Private events here depend on the authorisations of the Regione Siciliana, which manages the monument, and are not always possible. If it is your dream, ask very early and keep a second option ready.
Facing Ortigia: Villas and Hotels by the Sea
Just outside the old town, a few venues give you the best of both worlds: space, gardens and parking, with Ortigia or the sea in the view.
Grand Hotel Villa Politi
Founded in 1862 by an Austrian noblewoman who fell in love with Syracuse and with her guide, the hotel welcomed European royalty and writers, and Winston Churchill stayed here with his wife Clementine. Its gardens look down into an ancient stone quarry, one of the most unusual settings in the city. Ask the hotel which spaces are available for events today.
Grand Hotel Minareto
A five-star resort on the peninsula opposite Ortigia, with gardens of palms and carob trees, a private beach in a small bay and a roof garden for summer dinners. At sunset the old town lights up across the water, and guests can even reach Ortigia by boat.
In the Countryside: Estates and Masserie
Inland towards Noto and the Iblean hills, or north along the coast towards Augusta, the venues change completely: stone farmhouses, olive and carob groves, total privacy and room for the whole party to stay. These are the venues for long, relaxed wedding weekends.
Commenda di San Calogero
A historic summer residence with a large courtyard, a spa and fields that stretch to the horizon, which can be hired exclusively. The estate produces its own food, which can become part of the menu and of the gifts for your guests.
La Chiusa Country House — Rosolini
A stone masseria from 1873 surrounded by olive, carob and pomegranate trees, with two inner courtyards, terraces over the countryside and a large pool. One of the most versatile venues in the province for a big wedding.
Dimora delle Balze
A restored nineteenth-century country house with eleven individually designed rooms, which can be taken exclusively. One of the most photographed venues in south-eastern Sicily, described in more detail in our guide to the best venues in Noto.
Thalos — Augusta
A newer venue on the coastal road between Augusta and Brucoli, a few minutes from the sea and about half an hour from Catania airport. Gardens, a citrus grove, a pool and an open-air amphitheatre in classical style make a scenic setting for the ceremony, with a glass winter garden and marquees for the evening. The venue says it hosts one wedding a day, has spaces for civil ceremonies and a few rooms for the couple and close family, and is rented as a venue only, so you choose your own caterer.
Villa Infinito Mare — Augusta
A modern villa above the sea near the fishing village of Brucoli, with a view that runs from Mount Etna to the Santa Croce lighthouse. Its signature is a large infinity pool, lit at night, with a natural grotto beneath it, alongside a panoramic hall, terraces over the water and an olive garden. Built for big numbers, it can host several hundred guests; the venue says it can host the ceremony on site, works with external caterers and has a few sea-view rooms and a bridal suite.
How to Choose: Ortigia or the Countryside?
- Choose Ortigia if history is the point, if you have up to about a hundred guests, and if you love the idea of everyone walking through the old town together.
- Choose the coast if you want the sea in every frame, a beach for the day after and easier logistics for guests with cars.
- Choose the countryside if you want privacy, a large group, a party that runs late, and all your guests staying in one place.
Many couples combine them: ceremony at the cathedral, portraits in the alleys of Ortigia, then a short drive to a villa or masseria for the reception. On film it gives two very different moods in the same day, and it is the combination we love to film most in Syracuse.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best wedding venues in Ortigia?
For the ceremony, the Cathedral of Syracuse in Piazza Duomo. For the reception, historic hotels such as the Ortea Palace, with its rooftop terrace, and the Grand Hotel Ortigia on the seafront. Castello Maniace can host private events only with the authorisation of the Regione Siciliana.
Can you get married in the Cathedral of Syracuse?
Yes, the cathedral hosts Catholic weddings. As with every church, the paperwork goes through your own parish and should be started at least six months in advance.
Which venues near Syracuse are best for a large wedding?
Country estates such as La Chiusa near Rosolini, which can host up to about 300 guests, Thalos near Augusta, for up to about 250, and exclusive-use estates like the Commenda di San Calogero. They offer space, privacy and room for guests to stay.
Can we have a wedding by the sea in Syracuse?
Yes. Hotels on the coast, such as the Grand Hotel Minareto in the Plemmirio reserve, have gardens, a private beach and a view of Ortigia across the water.
How far in advance should we book a venue in Syracuse?
For May, June and September, 12 to 18 months ahead, especially for the most requested venues in Ortigia and the exclusive-use estates in the countryside.
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