Marry or Honeymoon in Florence at The Belmond Villa San Michele

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Destination weddings seem to be getting more + more popular, and for obvious reason! What could be better than jetting off to the most romantic setting with a handful of your most favorite people in tow? Today we’re excited to share an incredible location for your destination wedding, The Belmond Villa San Michele, a stunning former monastery nestled in the verdant hills above Florence.

The Belmond hotel group has many amazing properties, trains and cruises throughout the world, including several stunning properties in Italy. To give you a peek at each of these gorgeous + unique properties, we thought it would be fun to partner with Belmond to introduce one of their amazing hotels each month for the next several months.

To get an exclusive, insider view of what it would really be like to tie the knot or honeymoon in Italy, we chatted with Vittorio, Villa San Michele’s events manager and Maurizio, the hotel’s head concierge:

GWS: Do you have a favorite wedding that was held at your property? If so, what made the wedding so special and memorable?

Each wedding is unique. Last year we celebrated the wedding of a very young couple: the bride from California, the groom came from the Hawaii and in their blessing they wanted to mix the sands from their states as a symbol of the strength of their union.

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GWS: Where is your favorite location on property for a wedding ceremony and why?

The Garden of the Lemon Trees has been recently reappointed as a special location for blessings, because of its tranquillity. From there you can enjoy the most beautiful sunset over the city of Florence.

GWS: Is there one area of the hotel that guests cannot stop raving about when they visit and experience it for the first time?

Guests are in awe of the stunning view of Florence and they cannot avoid taking at least one picture.

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GWS: What is your must have dish at a restaurant on property?

At our property, the must have dish is certainly Fillet of beef with Brunello wine sauce.

GWS: What is your favorite drink on property and where is your favorite place to enjoy it?

Besides our excellent Bellini cocktails made with fresh peach, our Barman prepares a special refreshing cocktail made with the lemons from our garden named Limonaia.

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GWS: What activities offered by your property or locally do you recommend to your guests?

• Vespa in Florence and in the Chianti wine area
• Hot-air balloon ride over the Chianti hills and vineyards
• Rafting in the Arno river
• Wine tasting in the Chianti or Montalcino (Brunello is a must try wine)

GWS: How do you make a visit special for a couple on their honeymoon?

As a special visit we suggest a private guided tour of the Vasari Corridor, an elevated enclosed passageway in Florence, which connects the Palazzo Vecchio with the Palazzo Pitti. Beginning on the south side of the Palazzo Vecchio, it then joins the Uffizi Gallery and leaves on its south side, crossing the Lungarno dei Archibusieri and then following the north bank of the River Arno until it crosses the Ponte Vecchio.

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If an intimate + private setting is what you have in mind for your special day, The Belmond Villa San Michele is available for exclusive rental. And with tons of great areas of the property to choose from, you can exchange your vows with an unparalleled backdrop of the city of Florence and the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside + opt for a garden, pool-side, terrace, or romantically-decorated restaurant or room for your reception! To learn more about planning a wedding or honeymoon at the beautiful Belmond Villa San Michele – and to see how stress-free the experience would be for you + your guests – visit their website today!

This post is part of our series, Find Your Italian Honeymoon + Wedding Destination with Belmond. Be sure to check out all the other amazing properties!

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