PHOTO: This balcony on Lake Como was the scene of an unlikely celebrity wedding: Annakin Skywaker and Padme Amidala in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of The Sith. (Photo by James Shillinglaw)
In the past couple weeks alone, George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin celebrated their wedding weekend in Venice, accompanied by some of their best A-list pals, including Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, Anna Wintour, Bono of U2, Bill Murray, and Matt Damon.
In a less opulent affair, Instagram photos told the tale of Lauren Conrad's honeymoon just last week on the Amalfi Coast with new hubby William Tell. And this past spring, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West celebrated their nuptials in Florence.
So what is it about Italy that inspires the rich and famous to begin their wedded bliss in the land where Romans once roamed?
Venice
Truman Capote, author of one of the greatest romance stories of all time ("Breakfast at Tiffany's"), once said that "Venice is like eating an entire box of liqueur chocolates in one go."
Situated across hundreds of tiny islands connected by canals, from which the dueling songs of gondoliers can be heard echoing back and forth between the city's Gothic exteriors, Venice is bursting with the kind of dreamy ambiance that can only be matched in romance films. So it makes sense that Hollywood's leading man George Clooney would choose this location for his much-anticipated wedding and honeymoon to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin.
According to E! Online, the couple shared a private symbolic ceremony at the Aman Canal Grande hotel on Saturday, September 28, where they, "swapped vows on a podium in front of a large wall of white candles in the presence of more than 100 of their nearest and dearest."
Guests of the wedding, "sipped on hundreds of bottles of champagne and red wine and celebrated with disco and jazz music past midnight," reports E! Online. The following day, the lovebirds made their union official at the municipal building for a civil ceremony.
In 2009, Salma Hayek and her French billionaire husband Fran?ois-Henri Pinault renewed their vows at the Teatro La Fenice opera house in Venice (Bono and Anna Wintour were also in attendance for their wedding).
Lake Como
Two of the guests at Clooney's wedding, John Krasinski and Emily Blunt, stayed at his Lake Como home in the days leading up to their 2011 wedding, which was held at the Villa d'Este. The 16th century villa was built as the summer home of a Cardinal and was converted into a luxury hotel in 1873.
Located in Lombardy, at the base of the Alps and just north of Milan, Lake Como is the third largest lake in Italy and has been the playground of the well-to-do for hundreds of years. Every spring through summer, vacationers arrive in droves, mostly from nearby European countries. They come for the Mediterranean-like weather, the water sports, such as sailing, waterskiing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, and to spend their leisure time socializing with other rich and famous travelers.
Most visitors rent villas in the many villages surrounding the lake. In the past few years, however, numerous hotels, restaurants and shops have opened in the town of Como to welcome a growing international crowd.
Another well-known twosome who celebrated their nuptials at this romantic lakeside region are John Legend and Chrissy Teigen. Their setting of choice: the Villa Pizzo. The couple then honeymooned at multiple locations in the Italian Riviera (see below).
Verona
This city in northern Italy may not see as many modern-day celebrities celebrating their vows of love for one another as the others do, but it certainly doesn't need help keeping its romantic appeal afloat. Verona is, after all, the city where Romeo and Juliet met, fell in love, secretly married and eventually died in each other's arms, or so says Shakespeare's tragic love story.
"In fair Verona," as the playwright termed it, pedestrians and bicyclists are not only welcomed, they're preferred. Bike sharing stations are set up at major destination points in town to assist visitors and locals in this capacity. The city's public bus system is also good for traveling to slightly farther locations, such as hotels on the outskirts of town, and taxis are readily available for transport to nearby Lake Garda.
A walking tour is a great way to get to know Verona and its history. One tour takes Shakespeare fans through scenic medieval courtyards to Romeo's house, then to Juliet's tomb, and also to view the balcony where Juliet calls out to her Romeo and he first proclaims his love for her.
Rome
When it comes to romantic destinations, Italy's capital city is generally at the top of everyone's list. From the moment Audrey Hepburn graced black-and-white picture screens in the 1953 film "Roman Holiday" as a princess looking for common adventures on the arm of a handsome Gregory Peck, starry-eyed travelers have flocked to this ancient city of love.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes shared their 15 minutes of vows at the Odescalchi Castle just outside of Rome's city center. The historical museum is six centuries old and overlooks the volcanic Lake Bracciano. Aside from being a hot spot for weddings, the castle is also host to numerous events throughout the year.
In the city, LeBron James and his long-time love Savannah Brinson spent their honeymoon touring ancient Roman sites after celebrating their wedding in California. LeBron's Instagram photos showed the pair at the Colosseum and sharing a romantic dinner at Pierluigi, a restaurant that dates back to the late 1930s.
PHOTO: LeBron James took his talents (and Savannah Brinson) to Rome. (Courtesy of Instagram)
Amalfi Coast
After exchanging their vows in front of family and friends in a rustic California-coastal wedding, Lauren Conrad and William Tell jetted off to a stretch of land in southern Italy bordering the Mediterranean Sea that makes up the Amalfi Coast.
Of the 13 municipalities that are located here, Amalfi, Sorrento, Positano and Ravello have received the most celebrity buzz.
Ninety minutes south of Naples lies the peaceful town of Ravello, where Rod Stewart shared post-matrimonial bliss with his wife Penny at the Hotel Caruso. The 11th century palace has also accommodated the likes of Jackie Kennedy Onasis, Dustin Hoffman and Diane Keaton.
The famous 19th century German composer and stage director, Richard Wagner, was so charmed by Ravello during his stay at Villa Rufalo in 1880 that he built the magic garden set in "Parsifal" after the picturesque town. For two months every summer, Ravello Festival (also called Wagner Festival) brings in music from around the world for an even greater enchanting experience.
Anyone who's seen the Diane Lane film "Under the Tuscan Sun," based on Frances Mayes' memoir, will understand the appeal of Positano. The charming town, which sits on the edge of the plunging cliffs of the Lattari Mountains, is perfect for relaxing on the pebbled sands, enjoying an afternoon glass of Limoncella, and shopping for one-of-a-kind local handmade arts and crafts.
In 2011, Reese Witherspoon and hubby Jim Toth spent the third leg of their honeymoon in Positano with a suite at Le Sirenuse and a view of the Mediterranean. According to US Weekly, they had pasta and grilled fish at Bruno, a restaurant recommended by Hilary Swank, and they also dined at La Caravella.
Italian Riviera
Quite different from the southern seaside Amalfi Coast is the lush green hillside retreat that rests against the crystal clear Ligurian waters of the Italian Riviera.
In recent years, a yacht-load of celebrities have chosen the former fishing village of Portofino as their private honeymoon escape, including Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney, rockers Avril Levigne and Chad Kroeger, and following their Lake Como wedding John Legend and Chrissy Teigen were spotted canoodling here.
PHOTO: Portofino. (Courtesy of Hotel Splendido)
The golden book where guests sign in to the 16th century Hotel Splendido is written proof that the hilltop villa, which once served as a monastery, has been a star-studded escape for decades. Guests who have stayed include Madonna, Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart, and even the Duke of Windsor.
Honeymooners in Portofino have the option, of course, to cuddle up poolside all day, but the beauty of the Gulf of Genoa beckons its visitors to explore its natural scenery. Since Portofino is a car-free town (visitors who drive there leave their car at a parking lot before entering), there's nothing more romantic than taking an early hike through the Portofino Regional Park with amazing views of the Mediterranean. Next, bask in the afternoon sun on Paraggi Beach (slightly out of town), followed by a stroll through the rows of pastel houses and dinner on the terrace at Chuflay Restaurant at the Hotel Splendido's sister site, Splendido Mare.
When Mark Twain said that "The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo," he surely implied his sincerest love and respect for the Renaissance artist, because the sites and landscapes of Italy are truly masterpieces of perfection. What a wonderful way to begin life together as a married couple, walking hand-in-hand with a work of art as your backdrop.
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