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VARENNA is a charming village dating back to Roman times. It is located on Lake Como Eastern shores. Varenna leans on rocky promontory, green mountain, on whose summit stands ancient castle of Vezio.
Varenna used to be a small fishermen village. It is now an enchanting venue that maintains unchanged its original serene and picturesque atmosphere.
And you can really soak up a special atmosphere everywhere you look around this village, with its narrow streets and spectacular views.
Scenic lake shores walk, streets dotted with charming cafes and restaurants, facades of old houses embellished by flower-filled balconies, make Varenna a unique destination for an unforgettable wedding.
Varenna main center offers splendid opportunities to the newlyweds and their guests: breathtaking view, relaxing walks, perfect corners for romantic wedding photos, hotels for every budget and a wide choice of places to enjoy the Italian flavours. You could find here everything from simple and cozy pizzerias to elegant and fine restaurants.
In Varenna you can plan your wedding, the most important day of your life just like you have always dreamed.
You can choose to celebrate a open air civil ceremony or symbolic ceremony and then continue the keep on celebrating with a wedding reception framed by a delightful landscape and historic settings.
Symbolic wedding ceremonies can be performed in any venue: private Villas or lovely hotels like Royal Victoria because it is not required any specific official license for it.
All these beautiful Villas and Hotels are within walking distance one from another. This is a big plus for brides and grooms who prefer to focus their budget on the wedding ceremony and reception rather than move too much around investing a lot of their wedding budget in transfers.
Villa Monastero in Varenna
The first Villa we mentioned, Villa Monastero, was built at the end of the 12th century and it was initially a Cistercian nunnery dedicated to the Holy Virgin.
The ancient Villa is an amazing complex that includes a wide terraced botanical garden. It collects many rare plants species. Mild climate, favoured by Lake Como allows numerous botanic species from all over the world to grow. This is the reason why, in almost every season of the year, the park gives you the chance to enjoy a variety of colours and scents making it the perfect scenery for magnificent wedding pictures.
The complex passed through several foreign owners, who embellished it with some elements of Nordic taste. In 1918, the Villa was acquired by the Italian Government as war debt until, in 1939, became a public property and also a museum. Since then, the villa is a reference point for events on Lake Como.
Our couples are very lucky to get the chance to tie the knot at this stunning property.
Wedding ceremony can be performed in a wonderful balcony overlooking Lake Como. Wedding reception is served in the gardens overlooking the lake too.
Wedding ceremonies and receptions at Villa Cipressi in Varenna
Side of Villa Monastero we can find Villa Cipressi. The complex is surrounded by secular terraced gardens that reach Lake Como shores.
The name of Villa Cipressi originates from the beautiful and ancient cypress trees in its gardens. This villa is currently a lovely hotel licensed for civil legal civil ceremony. You can plan here your wedding reception dinner and accommodation too.
You can plan here the whole wedding day from your fateful yes to your cutting of the cake, from the tinkling toasts to the cheerful parties!
The whole place is steeped in history. Buildings and gardens overlook Lake Como. They were built mainly between 1400 and 1800. They all make this villa an ideal and unique venue for a fairy tale wedding.
Hotel Royal Victoria in Varenna
The last venue we are happy to share with you it’s the recently renovated hotel Royal Victoria in Varenna.
This is just few steps from Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi and it can be the ideal venue for symbolic ceremonies and wedding receptions
Hotel is directly on the shores and it offers to their guests fine food, beautiful views, swimming pool and a private dock.
The serve a delicious wedding aperitif outdoor in the gardens of the hotel. They plan Refined sit down dinners in the glass window Veranda of Royal Victoria’s restaurant.
All the three Villas: Villa Monastero, Villa Cipressi and Royal Victoria Hotel offer lovely and comfortable accommodations on site.
Villa Monastero has 14 rooms and these are given only in block for events with whole Villa at exclusive use.
Villa Cipressi has 31 rooms.
Hotel Royal Victoria has 20 rooms.
For those who wish to explore Varenna surroundings, the village is well connected to the most wanted spots on Lake Como: Bellagio (reachable in ten minutes by boat), Menaggio, Villa del Balbianello, Lecco, Como and Cernobbio.
Charm, warmth and emotions are only a few of the ingredients that Varenna offers to its guests for a wedding and a very special staying!
A special thank you to John Hope, Silvia Borda, Davide Zanoni, Micaela Zuliani, Raffaello Mazzoleni, Riccardo Bestetti, Morlotti studio and David Christian Lichtag for their great shots in this post dedicated to Varenna.