Tvoi EventSan Galgano abbey wedding
A Gothic church with no roof, grass for a floor and the sky overhead: how a ceremony at San Galgano works and what to know first.
The abbey of San Galgano lies in the comune of Chiusdino, in the province of Siena. The Cistercians began building the church in 1218; today its walls and arches stand open to the sky and the nave is a lawn. On the hill above sits the round chapel of Montesiepi, with Saint Galgano's sword set in the rock. Under the current regulation of the comune of Chiusdino, the abbey and two halls of the same complex, the Sala Capitolare and the Sala Scriptorium, are among the places where civil weddings and civil unions are celebrated. The complex and its visits are run by the Fondazione San Galgano. We confirm open dates and conditions with the comune and the foundation for each wedding.
What we take care of
Booking the date with Chiusdino
We apply to the comune's civil registry office, agree the ceremony time and keep track of the payment deadlines for the municipal fee.
Documents and interpreter
Requirements depend on citizenship and are confirmed with the comune and the consulate. We prepare the paperwork with you and bring an interpreter if you do not speak Italian.
Set-up within the monument's rules
The comune provides a standard layout with seating for guests; we add the flowers and any extra decor and clear it away as soon as the ceremony ends.
Photographs in the abbey and at Montesiepi
We time the shoot for the light through the arches and the walk up to the chapel, so portraits do not eat into dinner.
Dinner in the surrounding hills
We find a villa, estate or agriturismo nearby where the celebration carries on after the ceremony.
Transfers and the guests' route
We bring guests from Siena, Florence or your villa, plan the parking and advise on shoes for grass and gravel.
Tell us about your celebration
Tell us the occasion, the date and the number of guests. We will suggest a format, a venue and vendors, and prepare a fixed written estimate before any work starts.
What to know before a San Galgano wedding
There is no roof
The sky is the vault, so the weather matters. The regulation also lists two halls of the complex for ceremonies, and we discuss the fallback with the comune when booking.
A monument, not an event space
Wedding guests follow the rules for visitors, and throwing rice or confetti inside is not allowed. The couple's own decor goes in and out with them.
A calendar of its own
The comune's regulation rules out ceremonies on a number of public holidays and, in the abbey itself, for the whole of July because of a cultural programme. We check whether this still applies in your year.
Two parties to talk to
The comune performs the ceremony and the foundation runs the complex. We deal with both and turn their answers into one plan.
San Galgano wedding questions
Can you legally get married at San Galgano abbey?
Yes. The regulation of the comune of Chiusdino lists the abbey among the places where civil weddings and civil unions are celebrated, led by the mayor or a person the mayor delegates. Documents depend on citizenship, so we confirm the list with the comune and your consulate.
How do we book a wedding at San Galgano?
Bookings go through the civil registry office of the comune of Chiusdino. The fee is set each year by the municipality, differs for residents, non-residents and foreign citizens and is paid in two instalments. We confirm the current figure when we book.
Can we have a symbolic ceremony or elopement at San Galgano?
Within a civil ceremony, personal rituals are possible only if agreed in advance with the officiant. A symbolic ceremony without the comune is a separate request to the Fondazione San Galgano, and whether it is possible is confirmed for each date.
What happens if it rains on the wedding day?
The abbey has no roof, so a fallback is always needed. The Sala Capitolare and the Sala Scriptorium are also named in the regulation as ceremony places, and we agree with the comune in advance whether a switch is possible.
How many guests can attend a San Galgano ceremony?
According to the regulation, the standard layout includes a ceremony table, seats for the couple and witnesses and sixty chairs for guests. A different layout is possible at the couple's expense and by agreement, so for a larger group we check the terms with the comune early.
Let's talk about your celebration
Send a request or write to us on WhatsApp: a coordinator will reply, ask about the details and suggest the next step.