Destination wedding in Acireale & the Riviera dei Ciclopi
Baroque churches above a coastline of black lava stacks.
Region
Ionian Coast
Best months
May, June, September and October. The coastal breeze makes summer evenings comfortable.
Getting there
Twenty five minutes from Catania airport. Civil ceremonies are held at the Comune and in licensed villas. The coast road is scenic but slow in summer, so transfers need a margin.
Getting married in Acireale & the Riviera dei Ciclopi
Acireale is a baroque town ten minutes north of Catania, sitting on a lava terrace above the sea. Its Piazza Duomo is one of the most theatrical squares in Sicily, and the coast below — the Riviera dei Ciclopi — is a chain of black volcanic rocks and small fishing harbours.
Aci Trezza, with the basalt stacks that Homer's Cyclops supposedly threw at Ulysses, and the Norman castle of Aci Castello are five minutes away and give the couple session a dramatic, mythological quality.
Venues and locations I use in Acireale & the Riviera dei Ciclopi
- Basilica Cattedrale di Acireale and the churches of Piazza Duomo
- Santa Maria La Scala — a tiny fishing harbour below the town
- Castello Normanno di Aci Castello on a lava outcrop
- Faraglioni dei Ciclopi at Aci Trezza for sunset portraits
- Historic villas with citrus gardens between Acireale and Etna
Frequently asked questions
Is Acireale a good value alternative to Taormina?
Yes. You get baroque architecture, sea views and Etna in the background, at noticeably lower cost and with far fewer crowds.
Can we photograph on the lava rocks?
Yes, in the marine protected area of the Isole Ciclopi, respecting the access rules of the reserve.
Nearby wedding destinations
Ionian Coast
Catania
Black lava stone, baroque façades and a city that never stops moving.
Ionian Coast
Taormina
A Greek theatre, Etna on the horizon and the most photographed terrace in Sicily.
Etna Region
Mount Etna
Black lava, vineyards on the slopes and Europe's most active volcano.
North East
Messina
The strait, the ferries and a coastline of lakes and lighthouses.