San Galgano Abbey wedding Chiusdino

san galgano abbey weddings

The Abbey of San Galgano is near Chiusdino and is a unique outdoor wedding venue in Tuscany, Italy.

Facts about San Galgano Abbey

San Galgano Abbey dates back to about 1280. It took approximately 60 years to build the abbey. Sadly, after less than 100 years, the abbey is looted and ransacked. However, for centuries, the monks continue life at the monastery until finally, in 1786, the roof collapses.

You can find San Galgano 30 kilometers south-west of Siena. The walls of the abbey remain, and you can visit it to enjoy the atmosphere and spectacular architecture.

San Galgano abbey weddings are growing in popularity, and it’s easy to see why. The massive abbey allows you to get married in a church but still be outdoors. You will also hear the name ”Abbazia San Galgano”. Abbazia is the Italian word for Abbey.

san galgano abbey weddings

Getting married at San Galgano

You can get married in the abbey, but there are some criteria:

  1. It is not possible to have a religious wedding.
  2. You can’t have a symbolic wedding.
  3. You can have a civil wedding. This is the only way to achieve a legally valid marriage at San Galgano.
  4. The abbey lies under the town of Chiusdino. The town hall will prepare your paperwork for a legally valid wedding. However, you need to prepare the necessary documents for them in advance.
  5. An officiant from the town hall will preside over your wedding in the central part of the abbey. Should it rain, you can have the ceremony in a side room that does have a roof. Like this wedding.
san galgano abbey weddings

Packages and Wedding Cost

A San Galgano abbey wedding costs approximately 1000 – 1500 euros at the time of writing. Please note that this is only an indication. Prices change each year, but here are a few more things to note:

  • Currently, the cost varies depending on the time of day and which day of the week.
  • They only offer certain times and certain days.
  • The fee includes the paperwork and the officiant celebrating your civil ceremony.
  • It includes the rental of the abbey for 60 minutes for your wedding. They close inside the church to tourists during the wedding ceremony, but as soon as the wedding service ends, they reopen the doors.
san galgano abbey weddings

Remember this is just the San Galgano wedding cost. You will also need a wedding planner to assist in booking your Italian wedding at the Abbazia di San Galgano! You need the help of someone that speaks Italian as Chiusdino town hall prefers to work with wedding planners and not direct requests.

My wife is a professional wedding planner and offers San Galgano wedding packages.

Photography at the Abbey

After the ceremony, you are free to take photos in the abbey, there will be a few tourists wandering around but usually only a handful. They are easily avoidable while we take photos. Most see you in your wedding dress and stay out of the way of your wedding photography.

It is also possible to visit the abbey and take photos wearing your wedding clothes. This only requires that you purchase an entrance ticket which costs about five euro per person. So if you want some extra photos, this is an excellent opportunity.

I photograph many elopements, engagements, and pre-weddings at San Galgano. If you are considering a destination wedding at the abbey then why not pair it with this incredible five-star luxury resort for your wedding reception.

san galgano abbey weddings

San Galgano Wedding Photographer

San Galgano offers a wedding photographer a unique canvas for creative images. The architecture and drama of the location make for some interesting photos opportunities.

If you are considering a wedding in Tuscany and fancy something a little different then this could be the ideal place for you!

Italian and destination wedding photographer Jules Bower photographs weddings in Italy, Europe, and worldwide. British but fluent in Italian, his strong artistic vision and vast experience in the wedding industry make him unique. His wife is a top wedding planner in Tuscany.

Jules Bower author