Getting Married in Sicily

In Sicily you can marry by the sea, in the countryside or in the mountains: beaches, villages and mountain parks offer very different settings. Late spring and early autumn suit an outdoor celebration. Which documents the ceremony needs depends on nationality and is clarified beforehand with the competent authorities.

Where can you marry on a beach in Sicily?

Sicily has sandy bays and rocky coasts. Possible settings include Mondello near Palermo, San Vito lo Capo in the northwest and the Scala dei Turchi on the south coast. Whether a ceremony may take place on a particular beach is decided by the local municipality, and in nature reserves by the reserve's management. Ask there before planning.

Can you also marry in the mountains or the countryside?

Yes. The interior of Sicily is hilly to mountainous. It includes the nature parks Madonie and Nebrodi in the north of the island, Mount Etna and hill towns such as Erice, Montalbano Elicona, Novara di Sicilia and Savoca. Paths, access and weather matter more here than on the beach, and in a park the same rule applies: ask the municipality or the park authority first.

What other landscapes does Sicily have?

Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and has three coasts: the Tyrrhenian in the north, the Ionian in the east and the coast on the Strait of Sicily in the south. Island groups such as the Aeolian Islands and the Aegadian Islands add to this. Airports and ferries are described under Arrival.

Which season suits a wedding in Sicily?

Late spring and early autumn are mild, and the sea is still warm in September and October. July and August are hot, winter is changeable. Almond trees blossom in February and March. Monthly values and sea temperatures are on the page Travel planning.

Which documents does a wedding need?

The rules depend on the nationality of the couple and on the type of ceremony, civil or church. The registry office of the Italian municipality where the ceremony takes place and the competent authority of the couple's home country say which documents apply, for example certificates, translations or an apostille. It is worth asking both early, because processing takes time.

Who is the right contact?

For the ceremony itself, the municipality (comune) where it takes place is responsible, and for a church wedding the parish. For documents, it is the authority of the home country.