Terni, an Umbrian city of ancient origins but with a modern appearance, is the perfect place for all the romantics who are planning their wedding. The reason is simple: it is here that Saint Valentine was born and lived, he was patron of the city and protector of lovers.
Getting married in Terni, the city of those who love
Can there be anything more exciting than swearing eternal love in the city of its protector par excellence?Even if you don’t think so, you should in any way consider getting married in Terni.
Although many cities contend for the primacy of having given birth to Saint Valentine, it is precisely in the Umbrian capital that the saint was born, lived and now rests in the Basilica that bears his name. Valentino was bishop in the first centuries after Christ and, after his death, was venerated both in Italy and abroad. There are many legends that tell why the saint is considered protector of lovers. The most famous is the one of Sabino and Serapia, two young lovers of Terni whose relationship was opposed by families for religious reasons: Sabino, in fact, was pagan, while Serapia was Christian. The young soldier was out of love for the girl and he further converted to Christianity precisely thanks to Bishop Valentino but she became seriously ill very soon. The bishop, implored by Sabin, who desperately said he could not live without her, turned to the Lord and united them for eternity in an endless sleep.
Of course, indeed the story is not the most cheerful, but it is one of the legendary reasons why Saint Valentine became the protector of lovers and is celebrated all around the world.
Beyond the poignant tales, getting married in Terni on 14 February would certainly be a very significant choice from a symbolic point of view!
Where to get married in Terni
One of the first steps you will face, when you plan your wedding, is choosing the location for the ceremony.
If you prefer to marry with a religious rite, in Terni and its surroundings you will find not only churches, but also abbeys and monasteries that can prove to be excellent and suggestive places where to pronounce your “I do” in front of God.
Surely, the ideal place to get married in Terni with a Catholic ceremony is the aforementioned Saint Valentine’s Basilica. The elegant church, where the remains of the saint rest, dates back to 1600 and will welcome you with the solemnity of its marbles and paintings.
Just as evocative are the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (or the Cathedral of Terni), with its fascinating works of art, the Sanctuary of San Francesco d’Assisi, with its sober style and high religious value, or the church of San Salvatore, with its characteristic plan partly circular and partly rectangular.
If instead you have decided to marry in Terni with civil ceremony, probably your wedding will take place in the historic Palazzo Spada, seat of the municipality: if you love elegance and sixteenth-century frescoes, you will surely appreciate this building, which is a real masterpiece.
For those who instead feel original, there are also the most outgoing locations where to get married in Terni. For example, if you love literature you can get married in a hall of the city’s municipal library, which combines the classic style of the nineteenth-century palace that houses it with the modern one due to recent restorations. Or, if nature has a particular charm for you, know that you can get married in a truly unique place: the Marble Falls. And you can do that by choosing from four “unique” points of view:
– Byron Square, which has fascinated the homonymous English poet and which preserves a monument in his honour; – the Belvedere Gmelin, from where to enjoy all the impetuousness of the waters;
– the small cloister (or specola) of Pius VI, a romantic tower overlooking the waterfalls; – the Belvedere dry, probably the most requested point to get married in Terni with all the power of the Marble Falls before your eyes.
In short, there are no lack of particular places to get married in Terni, sumptuous or unusual. If this is the city you have chosen for your wedding, you just have to opt for the solution that represents you the most!
The best locations for wedding photos in Terni
The province of Terni offers endless glimpses for your wedding photos, whatever your taste is.
Its long history, begun in Etruscan times, has left interesting traces and picturesque buildings, which can be transformed into an excellent background for photographs with a timeless charm. The same Palazzo Spada, seat of the municipality, the other medieval and Renaissance buildings, but also the Basilica di San Valentino, the Duomo and the other churches or abbeys: all these are potential sets for the photo shoot on your wedding day.
Also the nature around Terni grants dream locations: one of them is just the area where the Marble Falls are set. Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to shoot a drone video there to include in your wedding movie? The valley in which Terni lies, with its gentle mountains and hills, offers green expanses perfect to be immortal witnesses of the feeling that binds you.
Relying on a wedding photographer expert in both the craft and its territory, you can be sure that he will find for you all the most suitable locations as a scenario for a service that will tell your love in all its nuances.
Getting married in Terni: the traditions to know
When it comes to love and marriage, Umbria is rich in curious traditions and you feel that you can not know if you are thinking of getting married in Terni.
The first and most significant is definitely the Promise Festival. This is a religious celebration that takes place on the Sunday before 14 February. On that occasion, hundreds of Italian and foreign couples who will be married within the year reach the Basilica of Terni. There, in front of the urn where the remains of Saint Valentine are kept, lovers swear eternal love and are blessed by the Bishop, in the presence also of the mayor of the city. In remembrance of this touching ceremony, engaged couples are left a floral tribute– just as Valentino himself used to do, apparently, to wish them a happy future together.
Another Umbrian tradition linked to marriage, which you might decide to collect if you get married in Terni, is that of the menagerie– also called a tape, travata, laccio or parata. This playful custom takes place along the way that separates the bride from the church where the marriage is celebrated and works particularly well if the road is travelled on foot. In practice, a group of wedding guests block the way for the girl using the menagerie, that is a long rope, preventing her from continuing. To overcome the obstacle and go to marry, tradition wants that she pays a toll by throwing confetti or coins.
Last but not least, a custom that has ancient roots but still finds space before getting married is that of serenading the bride. The groom goes to her house with some musicians, stands under her window and performs a love song. After that, he invites her to go down to the street and gives her a rose, among the cheers of friends, relatives and neighbours who attended the show.
As you can imagine, getting married in Terni can be really poetic: you just have to start planning your big day!
Why get married in Terni
- Because it is the city of Saint Valentine– so the city of love par excellence!
- Because it is the place where you live or where you were born, and you are therefore very attached to it.
- Because you are fascinated by Umbria, with its villages and green hills.
- Because the excellent food and wine products of the area will make your reception even more special.
- Because you love nature and you know that here you can get married in front of the most beautiful waterfalls of Italy.
- Because Terni is located in the centre of the peninsula, making it easy to reach for all your guests.
- Because I can be with you on your most important day, telling it with my intense photographs and involving videos.
