COMUNE

In Italy, legal non-religious civil ceremonies are held in the Comune (Town Hall) of one of the local towns. Most towns in Italy have beautiful, ancient buildings that serve as council offices and Umbria is fortunate to have a wealth of medieval towns and villages with the Comune still in the original building dating back to the 1300s. The ceremony is usually conducted by the Mayor (the Sindaco) or Assessore (Councillor) and by law you will need an interpreter if you are not fluent in Italian!

There are three beautiful Comune near to La Preghiera, which could be used for your wedding ceremony.

Città di Castello has a spacious, elegant Council Chamber Room (Sala di Consiglio) located on the first floor. The entrance to the Comune is through huge, ancient wooden doors into a large vaulted hall with ancient steps. Climbing the worn terracotta stairs to the Sala di Consiglio brings a sense of timelessness and history to this important day.

Umbertide has a more intimate Sala di Consiglio, painted with beautiful frescoes and with terracotta flooring. Again located on the first floor, the entrance is from a charming piazza in the centre of the town up a flight of ancient stone stairs.

Both these Comune are a 15 minute drive away from La Preghiera and as yet make no charge for weddings for foreigners.

The third Comune is just over the border in Cortona, Tuscany and is now extremely popular for weddings in Italy. A spectacular flight of medieval stone steps leads up to the ancient Comune. The Sala di Consiglio is timber clad and decorated with emblems of nobility from times past.

Cortona is a 30 minute drive from La Preghiera and the Comune charges in the region of 700 Euro for weddings for foreigners.

Documents usually take about 3 months to be prepared and the Comune will require a Nulla Osta (a certificate of "no impediment to marriage") issued from the relevant Embassy in Italy for the union to take place.