This wonderful mansion is located on the hills South Lake Maggiore, only 10 minutes drive from pretty town of Arona in a unique country environment. It is a green and relaxing oasis, the perfect setting for your special day!

One of the main feature of Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone is that it is the only venue in Piemonte and Lombardy region that has a private chapel inside the venue itself. The romantic chapel can host your legal religious ceremony but the ceremony can be held also outdoors in the lovely garden.
Your reception can be hosted in the garden too or inside the ancient armory with arches that can seat up to 180 guests.

And let’s not forget how close the Abbazia is to Milano Malpensa airport!

Once you go inside the Abbazia you will breath the atmosphere of ancient times. The building was edified in mid 1200 by Humiliated Monks who used to farm and wool weaving.

At that time the tower was built and this is the real symbol of the Abbazia. In 1200 too was also built the pretty little private church where bride and groom can celebrate their evocative and romantic wedding.

During centuries Abbazia had several owners that changed this convent in a luxury court with horses and dogs for hunting.
At the end of 1700 Abbazia was acquired by Giannone family who is still the actual owner. The Abbazia now is a wonderful venue for elegant country weddings.

Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone is surrounded by a wide park with secular trees and blooming areas. The venue faces a lawn where you could celebrate your outdoor religious ceremony in the nature, such an enchanting atmosphere!

At the end of the park there is a rustic portico with stone columns with scented jasmines on. It could be the perfect place for your buffet aperitif. Over here you can also arrange lovely garden furniture or even tables and chars for your outdoor wedding meal.

From the park you can reach the reception room directly.
It can host up to 180 guests and it is embellished with frescos and brick arches. The room appears like an ancient armory a real masterpiece of architecture.

And it is not over! Abbazia has other surprises for you: the Corte Antica. It is a special area of the venue which is specially reserved to bride and groom and their wedding pictures. Corte Antica is a lovely portico with a pretty and stylish Italian garden enriched by a roses pergola, lemon trees and other secular trees.

And if you want more why don’t go on Lake Maggiore, in Arona, Stresa or reaching Borromeo Island by boat? It could be another amazing occasion to take some more stunning wedding pictures.

Abbazia di Santo Spirito will be the perfect venue you’ve always dreamt of!

For further information on a wedding to Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone please contact Italian Lakes Wedding Team or filling out the form below:

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All images © Abbazia di Santo Spirito – Italian lakes Wedding and:
• Andrea Bertaglia – www.andreabertagliaphoto.com
• Enrico Mocci – www.artefotoarona.com
• Raffaello Mazzoleni – www.artefoto-omgna.it

Copyright © All rights reserved.

For their wedding Cinzia and Gio’ chose the tony little church of Madonna di Luzzara on the hills of Lake Orta. Madonna di Luzzara is a very ancient church in the countryside sourrounded by green lawns and woods among birch and linden.
This is absolutely a bucolic atmosphere for a wedding just like Cinzia and Giò wanted.

Church floral arrangement was really special. It was based on spheres of different dimensions enriched with dozen of Avalanche white roses.
And again Avalanche roses were in Cinzia’s scepter bouquet.

The party went on to St Julius Island but we stop here for now with few images taken just few hours ago. We will come back soon speaking about Cinzia and Giò’s wedding with more photos and many little details of this poetic wedding on Lake Orta.

Images © Italian Lakes Wedding. All right reserved.

We wish all our best to Riona and Barry!
We promise we will come back to you telling about this lovely Scottish couple with more details about their wedding in Bracciano countryside. So stay tuned for more photos to come!

So in this surrounding we find the Villa Margherita. Its special view on the lake, its beauty and its calmness with its huge garden and a refreshening swimming pool do create the special atmosphere of Villa Margherita.

The villa is situated in the hills above Oggebbio, near Verbania, just some k´s from Ascona and Locarno and only 90 k´s from the international airport Milan Malpensa.

Villa Margherita is a location dated back to the 19th century, freshly restored, an ideal location for any kind of reception. The interior is well thought, modern and charming with particular attention to all details, so this makes your moments so fascinating.

The location is ready to organize civil as well symbolic weddings.
If you look for a religious wedding, Villa Margherita has not far from it the church S. Agata at Novaglio, which appears in gothic style. One of the most scenographic churches around Lake Maggiore. In the middle of a camp with blooming hills and fig-trees and chestnut-trees. So this is the ideal church for a stylish country wedding.

Once ending with the ceremony you may organize the reception in the gardens of the villa, in between of roses and jasminium surrounded by stone walls which are covered with Ficus Repens.

The parc of Villa Margherita is laid out in terraces, the highest terrace near the house itself is the one with the most panoramic view. The lower terraces have lots of deck chairs to relax and enjoy the deep green and finely curated lawn – it almost seems to be a carpet. Here you find as well the pool.

After the aperitivo in villa you can organize a refreshing boat trip, so you pass at all the sight-seeing points from Cannero Riviera, the little ruins of the Castles of Cannero. They look like as coming out of the water, once they belonged to pirates of the lake. More north driving into Switzerland you may admire the wonderful islands of Brissago with their famous botanic gardens that contains even exotic trees, colours and perfumes.

Coming back to Villa Margherita the dinner will be served in the pavillon with lake view. You find a wooden pavement with lots of lemon and mandarin trees and again stone walls. The pavillon has capacity until 60 guests and holds the air fresh when hot weather is around.

For spouses and their guests Villa Margherita may offer 18 charming rooms, welcoming and planned with every detail. To see much more have a look on this short video.

Villa Margherita is a perfect venue for an elegant wedding, in harmony with nature, so you may enjoy all natural beauty offered by the Lake Maggiore. Come and see for yourself, you will remain impressed !

Britta Hartmann-De Marchi is german and therefore the specialist for German, Austrian and Swiss couples coming to the lake Region for getting married.

She herself got married 10 years ago and choose an Italian husband. Enjoying to live here in Bella Italia and coming from 14-years-experience in international advertising and marketing, she liked to change her job into becoming organizer of weddings for german-(and english-) speaking people coming to Italy for their marriage.

Britta does like the Lake Como, as this is the most hidden lake and not yet too touristy. Lots of nice villas and hotels are very charming. Tiny and cute townhalls offer their services for civil weddings. The same values she sees in the small lake Orta. Not to forget Lago Maggiore and Lake Garda.

Coming from Germany and knowing what to expect in Italy, she is the perfect organizer between bride and groom and the Italian service partners. Correctness, flexibility and a easy hand to plan all details around a wedding make her work very appreciated. “The most emotional part is, when I become almost the best friend of the bride during all the planning time you share with each other. So we both do enjoy the wedding day in its best form and this is important for my work”.

Today we would like to tell you about a place a little far from here. Going up on Lake Maggiore towards Switzerland, passing wonderful coastal towns of Ascona and Locarno you can reach to extreme North Lake town of Bellinzona is.
This is the country wedding destination on the lake we would like to tell you about.

Raffaello Mazzoleni photographer was there for Italian Lakes Wedding Team. He gave us the entire footage in few days, quick as he usually does.

Even if Raffaello Mazzoleni is a WPJA member, sometimes he also loves taking posed photos when couples ask for them. This service is the right combination between reportage style and a classical wedding service.

Natascia and Paolo are the main characters of the event. They celebrated their civil ceremony to Bisca town hall and arranged their reception to follow in the wonderful scenery of Castles of Bellinzona, in Canton Ticino.

Castles of Bellinsona are divided in three fortress.
First one is closer to Castelgrande town and it has two towers Torre Bianca (WhiteTower) and Torre Nera (Black Tower) On highest hill there is Castle of Montebello. Most of the pictures Raffaello took show this lovely spot. The biggest castle is Castle of Sasso Corbaro that overlooks all the others. It was built by Duke of Milan in 1479. View here is wonderful and it embraces entire Lake Maggiore area.
Natascia and Paolo choose the restaurant inside the lovely castle for their wedding reception. Buffet reception was held under vines pergolas in the courtyard of the castle itself. Food was very good and 4 heart shaped cakes were just delicious. Bellinzona wines are very special!
Right coast of Canton Ticino is exposed to sun rays and this makes grape production very easy. Among the most famous wines of the area we remember Red Merlot DOC of Ticino and White Chardonnaly Doc of Ticino.

Bellinzona Castles are a sort of barrier between Alps and Lake Maggiore. Duke of Milan decided to build this complex during 1400 to contrast Swiss troups invading the territory. They still have high walls, towers and battlements and they still represent a good testimony of medieval architecture on Alps. In year 2000 the entire area has been declared World Umanity Patrimony by Unesco.

Raffaello Mazzoleni was able to capture in his pictures the dramatic atmosphere of the area: castle, cloulds, sky, cliffs and green all around.

We would like to thank Raffaello Mazzoleni for the great work he did to document all the event. But this is not all. We will come back very soon speaking about Country Wedding on Lake Maggiore.
Stay tuned!

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore area. She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
Valentina is Italian; she has worked in event organization business for years before becoming a wedding planner.

For more information about Country Weddings on Lake Maggiore please contact us.

It is a former convent that become Visconti Family country lodge. Around mid 1500 the property was transformed in a real castle with tall walls and towers.
Across centuries it was widely modified. After a long renewal work – still ongoing – Castello di Massino Visconti opened his doors to public to put on disposal the beauty of this enchanting medieval venue for bride and grooms who wants celebrate their wedding on Lake Maggiore or Lake Orta.

The Open Day planned for Saturday 11 July will be a unique occasion to know and visit Castello di Massino Visconti. The Castle will be open from 10.00am to 5.00pm for all bridegrooms to be.
Young couples will discover every corner of the castle among vintage cars, floral arrangements, work of arts, and most of all the wonderful function rooms for events. Bridegrooms will have also have the opportunity to explore the cellars, ancient prisons and blades wall.
Last but not least all couples will have the opportunity to taste wonderful wine of the castle.

History, ancient atmospheres, and great scenarios are Castello di Massino Visconti main features a unique wedding venue on Piedmont lakes.

Let’s come to discover it on Saturday 11 July in occasion of the Open Day to Castello di Massino Visconti.
All images © Piero Gatti fotografo – Foto Smile Baveno, Lake Maggiore

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore area. She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
Valentina is Italian; she has worked in event organization business for years before becoming a wedding planner.

For more information about wedding at Castello di Massino Visconti – Stresa, Lake Maggiore – please contact us.

Langhe hills were the exceptional scenario for the wedding I would like to talk you about: a real Country Wedding. All begun in 2007 when Patricia and Richard, from Philadelphia PA USA, decided to come over Italy to celebrate their wedding.

Both of them are of Italian heritage, Richard’s grandparents origins are from a little village of Piedmont on vineyards hills. Starting from this point Patricia and Richard re-created the same atmosphere for their special day. The planning process lasted over 1 year.
On September 24th 2008 Patricia and Richard got married, such a wonderful event!

Langhe and Roero are two close areas South of Torino city and North of Italian Riviera. This wonderful district is right between mountains and seaside. its hills are the perfect place to grow vines to product the best Italian wines such as Barolo, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco and Dolcetto.
This are is also well known for truffles and delicious food. It is right between Bra and Alba, the most famous towns of the area, that Slow Food Association was born. Its task is protecting and preserving food and wine excellences of the area. Thanks to Slow Food, Pollenzo site was restored. It was an ancient Roman settlement, then Finance Agency during 1700 for King Albert of Savoy and now home of first Enogastronomic science University, a wonderful 4 stars hotel and Bank of Wine, where best and precious Italian wins are preserved.

Patricia and Richard choose this special place to celebrate their wedding together with their family and friends that came from all over US. Ceremony was held in the lovely garden of the hotel in the heart of Langhe where there are also Romans ruins of more than 2000 years ago. Aperitif then was served under the hotel wooden porch and dinner in the brick ceiling room with lovely round ivory tables.

Every single detail, including floral arrangements and bridal bouquet enriched with scented spices was linked to country style idea.

Invitations and stationery were provided by a well known American Wedding stationery, Bella Figura of Syracuse NY. They created a simple elegant old fashion design inspired on Italian colors and landscape of the beginning of Autumn, where light is smooth and warm and vines still green.

Wedding cake was prepared by famous Torino Matre Chocolatier Costantino Guardia that also prepared chocolate tasting and sweets for foreign delegations that came over Italy during 2006 Olympic Games. After that guest also tasted typical Piemonte nuts and Gianduja chocolate.

Swing and boogie for the dances after dinner together with grappas and cigars tasting. Skillful American Photographer Sora De Vore documented all the event with her wonderful images. She came from US to be part of this special event.
As far as the events before the wedding are concerned Patricia and Richard decided to offer to their guests a local atmosphere too. They welcome their guest to magic city of Torino to let them know the beauty of its architecture, museums and arts.

Patricia and Richard then choose for their rehearsal a Cascina on one of the higher point of Langhe . The venue is a perfect match between country style and contemporary trendy one with a breathtaking view over the vines and mountains.
The day after the wedding newly weds and guests spent some time on the hills and cellars and most of all Wine Bank to taste delicious wines and enjoy the atmosphere.

A Country Wedding could be very special you choose an perfect venue such a lovely spot as Langhe in Piedmont. There is enough here to fall in love at first sight, isn’t it?

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Orta and Lake Maggiore area. She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
Valentina is Italian; she has worked in event organization business for years before becoming a wedding planner.

For more information about country weddings in Langhe Region, please contact us.

Abbazia di Santo Spirito was built in 1282 by monks, it was a convent and it maintained its ancient appeal during centuries: internal courtyard has a high tower bell of the close little church in which you can celebrate your religious ceremony. The villa right is in a wonderful Italian style garden with flowers, roses arches embellished by secular trees: the perfect scenario for a country wedding, just few minutes from Lake Maggiore!

Driving across Arona and going up on Piemonte’s side of Lake Maggiore you will reach Stresa, the most important touristy destination of the entire lake. For the ones who want to experience the luxury of ancients villas, Villa Muggia in Stresa is the right address!

First owner was George Von Siemens, after him was the turn of Muggia family and actual owner is important Toso family from Torino. Beautiful rooms inside the villa match perfectly with the wonderful park: scented flowers, magnolias, cone pines, and bronze statues made by Domenico Colanzi, not to forget the stunning fountain!

Rooms and suites furniture is real antique. Some pieces were owned by Napoleon and there are wonderful and precious carpets, pictures, curtains and Murano glass chandeliers. You will also find Venetian mirrors, silvers and crystals and even a 1700 cart! Villa Muggia can be the perfect venue for a wedding inside the charming rooms or even in the wonderful park under a precious marquee with stunning view on the Lake.

Valentina Lombardi is the Italian Lakes Wedding coordinator for Lake Maggiore area. She follows Italian and foreign bridegrooms who wish to celebrate their wedding in Piemonte and Italian Lakes area.
For more information about Weddings at the Abazzia di Santo Spirito – Villa Giannone and Villa Muggia in Stresa please contact us.

All Images © Italian Lakes Wedding and:
Photo 1: Raffaello Mazzoleni
Photo 2: Mauro De Luca
Photo 3: Mauro De Luca
Photo 4: Mauro De Luca