For the wedding, starry tables... (part four)

Excellence: the sine qua non of planning your wedding. Not only must the ceremony itself meet the highest standards, but so must every related service and experience. Venues, caterers… everything must be discerning. Price becomes secondary to an A-list treatment that allows no compromises. Here are five of Italy’s most exceptional locations for an elite “I do,” where indulging in the finest is an education in taste and beauty—and a chance to enjoy privileges you won’t find elsewhere.

Stop and close your eyes. Now open them. Before you lies Gea—Mother Earth adorned in the colors and flavors of Umbria: fine wine, honey, olive oil… and timeless local craftsmanship. In the city of St. Francis stands an ancient monastery, fully modernized, where Roman-era vestiges blend seamlessly with contemporary architecture. Nun Relais is the perfect destination for couples who see their wedding as a journey of well-being. Here, the cult of the waters has endured for two millennia. The four spa rooms—Tepidarium, Caldarium, Sudatorium, Frigidarium—offer a unique path to pampering. This five-star haven is made all the more precious by its culinary heritage, a true gift from its kitchens.

Our gastronomic tour continues in Isernia province, in the village of Castel del Giudice. Here, an old farmhouse has been reborn thanks to a group of local entrepreneurs who respect the land’s values. Eco-sustainability reigns supreme—especially across a forty-hectare apple orchard—earning Borgotufi national acclaim as a model of good practice. The almost surreal atmosphere of this “albergo diffuso” is further enhanced by its dining experience, led by Ocrà – Favola Molisana, the estate’s crowning glory.

Near Agrigento, a princely late-18th-century residence gazes directly at the Temples of Concordia and Juno. In the heart of the Valley of the Temples, amid almond trees and olive groves, you can exchange vows before savoring the delights of the Terrazza degli Dei. This perfect harmony of creativity and tradition, featuring the finest local ingredients, tells the story of a Sicily that’s been reimagined yet remains deeply rooted in memory.

Still in Sicily—this time in Messina province at Capri Leone, with views stretching to the Aeolian Islands—lies the Antica Filanda, fifteen kilometers from the beaches of Capo d’Orlando, nestled in the Nebrodi Park. Twenty-seven years in the making, both hotel and restaurant fully embody the essence of Sicilian spirit: warm hospitality. Flavor, relaxation, courtesy, and professionalism combine to give guests more than a memorable stay—they leave with a story to tell… and return to.

“A savage beauty,” as Truman Capote called it. On the island of Pantelleria, within historic dammusi, Sikelia’s suites strike the perfect balance between monastic austerity and contemporary elegance. Here, luxury coexists with the island’s raw contrasts—wind-carved cliffs and the olive groves of an ancient Arab garden. In this setting, the restaurant Themà seeks to both elevate and deconstruct the very best that the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean has to offer. The chefs’ devoted experimentation—never banal—is born of exploring Pantelleria’s original recipes and speaks the true language of Sicily.

If you missed the third installment of this series on gourmet wedding banquets, you can find it here.