Giuseppe & Letizia — A Sicilian Wedding in Ragusa Ibla
Some couples travel the world to find the perfect place to marry. Giuseppe and Letizia already knew where it was.
Born and raised in Sicily and now building their life in northern Italy, they came back to their island — to Ragusa Ibla — to say yes in the place that shaped them. A Saturday in June, eighty guests, and a Baroque hilltop town that needs no filter.
A Sicily Destination Wedding in Ragusa Ibla
The Ceremony — Chiesa di San Giacomo, Giardini Iblei
The morning began quietly, with preparations on opposite sides of the city: the groom at his family home in Marina di Ragusa, the bride at hers in Ragusa. By mid-morning everything converged on the Giardini Iblei, the historic public gardens of Ragusa Ibla, where the small Chiesetta di San Giacomo stands tucked among the trees.
Few wedding settings in Sicily have this kind of atmosphere. The church is almost hidden; you have to know it is there. Inside, with Padre Giovanni Salonia officiating, Giuseppe and Letizia exchanged their vows surrounded by family and the people who matter most. The bride had learned her promise by heart.
Outside, the gardens were in full June bloom, lush, green and perfectly still in the morning light.
The Reception — Ristorante Gramole, Tenuta Chiaramonte
From the Giardini Iblei the celebration moved to Tenuta Chiaramonte, home of Ristorante Gramole: one of the most evocative reception venues around Ragusa, set within a working agricultural estate that holds everything authentic about south-eastern Sicily.
The flowers by Lorefice set the tone for the evening, an abundant, flower-led look that turned the tables into a countryside garden. The stationery and graphic details were by Universo Tipografia, and the favours, made by hand by the couple themselves, added a personal touch the guests were still talking about at the end of the night.
Then the Quartet Folk from Agrigento took the floor, and live music did what it always does at a wedding: it pulled everyone in, broke down the last of the formality and turned dinner into a real celebration. With Eros Lessi hosting, the night ran until late.
The Wedding Film
This film was shot by Film Vision on 6 June 2025, with photography by Angelo Alborino.
Every frame was made to hold what the day felt like, not only what it looked like: the light in the Giardini Iblei at eleven in the morning, the sound of the band bouncing off the stone walls of Tenuta Chiaramonte, the moment the groom’s parents sat down together, and the quiet weight of it.
This is what documentary wedding filmmaking looks like in Sicily.
- Ceremony
- Chiesetta di San Giacomo, Giardini Iblei, Ragusa Ibla
- Officiant
- Padre Giovanni Salonia
- Reception
- Ristorante Gramole, Tenuta Chiaramonte, Ragusa
- Photography
- Angelo Alborino
- Flowers
- Lorefice, Ragusa
- Music and entertainment
- Quartet Folk, Agrigento; host Eros Lessi
- Bride and groom attire
- Dimmi di Sì
- Stationery
- Universo Tipografia
- Hair
- Sebastiano Gallo
- Make-up
- Maria Ravallese
- Rings
- D’Amico, Mussomeli
- Wedding film
- Film Vision
Plan Your Wedding in Ragusa Ibla
Ragusa Ibla is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the finest Baroque towns in Europe. It is also one of the most underrated wedding destinations in Sicily: intimate enough to feel private, extraordinary enough to leave guests speechless.
Can you get married in the Giardini Iblei in Ragusa Ibla?
The Chiesetta di San Giacomo, a small church inside the Giardini Iblei, hosts religious ceremonies. Giuseppe and Letizia married there in June, with the historic gardens in full bloom around it.
Where can you hold a wedding reception near Ragusa Ibla?
Giuseppe and Letizia chose Ristorante Gramole at Tenuta Chiaramonte, a working agricultural estate near Ragusa. Our guide to the best wedding venues in Ragusa covers the other villas and estates in the area.
Is Ragusa Ibla a good place for a destination wedding?
Yes. A UNESCO-listed Baroque town in the south-east of Sicily, it suits couples who want an intimate, authentic wedding with extraordinary architecture, and it is about 25 minutes from Comiso airport and 1 hour 15 minutes from Catania.
Considering a wedding in Sicily?
Whether it is a destination wedding or an elopement, in Ragusa, Taormina, Syracuse, the Val di Noto or anywhere on the island, we would love to hear from you.
Get in touch