Wedded Wonderland
Italy wedding venues

Weddings and celebrations at

The Cloisters

Amalfi Coast and Sorrento, Italy

Vows beneath the 14th-century arches of the cloister, then photographs over the Bay of Naples from the Villa Comunale terrace.

Guests
Up to 45
Price
On enquiry
Airport
About 1 hour

Picture your wedding at The Cloisters

A 14th-century cloister in central Sorrento, run by the town and used for legal civil ceremonies beside the Villa Comunale gardens.

Your wedding

The Chiostro di San Francesco is not a hotel but a ceremony venue: a 14th-century cloister built on the site of a 7th-century monastery, beside the baroque church of San Francesco in the centre of Sorrento. The Comune di Sorrento approves it for civil weddings, and a registrar conducts the ceremony in Italian with translation, Monday to Saturday through the year. Couples can add their own readings, vows and music.

Your stay

There is no accommodation at the cloister, but that is part of its appeal: it sits in the middle of Sorrento, so guests can stay in town hotels and walk to the ceremony. Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia and the old streets are all close.

Read more about The Cloisters

The ceremony takes place in the open rectangular courtyard, framed by 2 styles of arches, with bougainvillea around the walls and the street traffic left behind. Straight after, guests walk into the Villa Comunale gardens, whose terrace looks over the Bay of Naples and is a favourite spot for photographs. The reception then moves elsewhere, to a hotel, garden or terrace venue in town or up in the hills.

Sorrento's port is below the Villa Comunale, with boats to Capri, Naples and Ischia, and the Circumvesuviana train runs to Pompeii and Naples. That makes the town an easy base for a few days of celebrations around the ceremony.

What couples love about The Cloisters

  • A legal civil ceremony in a 14th-century cloister
  • Arched courtyard beside the baroque church of San Francesco
  • Villa Comunale terrace next door for photographs over the bay
  • Walkable from central Sorrento hotels and restaurants
  • Pairs easily with receptions at venues around the peninsula

Why couples choose The Cloisters for their weddings and celebrations

Civil vows in a cloister

The Comune di Sorrento approves the cloister for legal civil weddings.

A 14th-century courtyard

The open courtyard has 2 styles of arches and bougainvillea around the walls.

Bay views next door

Guests walk straight into the Villa Comunale gardens, whose terrace looks over the bay.

In the heart of Sorrento

Guests stay in town hotels and walk to the ceremony from Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia.

Boats and trains nearby

Sorrento port sends boats to Capri and Ischia, and the Circumvesuviana runs to Pompeii.

Choose your date

Pick a date and your guest numbers. Your Wedded Advisor checks it with The Cloisters and comes back to you. Choosing a date here does not hold it.

No date chosen yet

Check your dateRequest a special quotation

Plan it all from wherever you are, with one Wedded Advisor, by phone or chat, from first idea to the day.

Speak with a Wedded Advisor

See what's included in your wedding

OfferGuestsPrice
Reception at Terranova AgriturismoYour Wedded Advisor confirms what this offer covers on your dates.On enquiryPrice on enquiry
Standard · reception at O’Parrucchiano Lemon GardensFor up to 20 guests. Additional guests are priced per person. Symbolic ceremony; a legal ceremony costs extra.Up to 20Price on enquiry
Standard · reception at Foreigners ClubFor up to 20 guests. Additional guests are priced per person. Symbolic ceremony; a legal ceremony costs extra.Up to 20Price on enquiry
Luxury · reception at Foreigners ClubFor up to 20 guests. Additional guests are priced per person. Symbolic ceremony; a legal ceremony costs extra.Up to 20Price on enquiry
Luxury · reception at O’Parrucchiano Lemon GardensFor up to 20 guests. Additional guests are priced per person. Symbolic ceremony; a legal ceremony costs extra.Up to 20Price on enquiry
Luxury · reception at Grand Hotel RoyalFor up to 20 guests. Additional guests are priced per person. Symbolic ceremony; a legal ceremony costs extra.Up to 20Price on enquiry
Luxury · reception at Hotel MediterraneoFor up to 45 guests. Additional guests are priced per person. Symbolic ceremony; a legal ceremony costs extra.Up to 45Price on enquiry

Ceremony

Usually included

  • Confirmation of the date and time of your wedding
  • Celebrant to perform your symbolic ceremony
  • Renting of the ceremony venue
  • Celebrant
  • Memorabilia certificate
  • A hand-tied posy for the bride
  • Boutonniere for the groom
  • 2 x Boutonnieres for the Best Man & Father of the Bride

Stay, dine and unwind

Spa and activities

  • Summer concerts and art exhibitions in the cloister
  • Boats to Capri and Ischia from Sorrento port
  • Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii
Airport transfer
About 1 hour from Naples International Airport

Inclusions vary by offer and date. Your Wedded Advisor confirms the exact list in writing before you commit.

Check availability for your dates

Choose where you marry and celebrate

2 spaces for ceremonies, dinners and parties at The Cloisters.

  • Cloister courtyard

    Open rectangular courtyard with 14th-century arches

    Best for
    Ceremony
    Capacity
    On enquiry

  • Villa Comunale terrace

    Public garden terrace next door, used for photographs over the bay

    Best for
    Ceremony
    Capacity
    On enquiry

Check your date

Plan your wedding with one Wedded Advisor

From your first question to the morning after, one person looks after your wedding at The Cloisters. Here is how it works.

  1. 01Tell us anythingYour date, your guest list and the feeling you want. Nothing is too early or too vague.
  2. 02Meet your Wedded Advisor, and agree the feeOne person who stays with you to the end. The fee is agreed in writing before any work begins.
  3. 03See real options, and chooseVenues, dates and costs that are actually free when you want them.
  4. 04We contract and holdSuppliers are paid at standardised industry rates, so you are never quoted a marked-up price.
  5. 05You show upSomeone on the ground looks after the days that matter.

Arrive with Wedded Privileges

Every wedding and celebration we book carries these benefits, through invitation-only hotel programs.

  • Recognised on arrival
  • Breakfast on every room
  • The rooms they keep back
  • Your own hours
  • Credit on the house

Benefits vary by hotel and booking. Your Wedded Advisor confirms which apply at The Cloisters.

Start with step 1: tell us your plans

Celebrate more than a wedding at The Cloisters

The Cloisters suits more than weddings. Your Wedded Advisor can plan a vow renewal, an anniversary, a milestone birthday or your honeymoon here, with the same care.

Plan a celebration with us

Check your dates at The Cloisters

One person plans your celebration at The Cloisters from first idea to the last night, and stays with you to the end.

  • Venues, dates and costs that are free when you want them
  • Rooms held for your guests, with the nights before and after planned
  • Suppliers paid at standard industry rates, never marked up
  • Wedded Privileges on every booking, through invitation-only hotel programs

Enquire about The Cloisters

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Get answers before you enquire

Is a ceremony at the Sorrento cloister legally binding?
Yes. The cloister is approved by the Comune di Sorrento for civil weddings, conducted by a registrar in Italian with translation.
Which days can we marry at the Chiostro di San Francesco?
Civil weddings are held Monday to Saturday, all year. Dates are popular, so book early.
Can we hold our reception at the cloister?
No. The cloister hosts the ceremony, and the reception moves to another venue, such as a Sorrento hotel or a hillside event space.
Where do we take photographs after the ceremony?
The Villa Comunale gardens are next door, and the terrace there looks across the Bay of Naples.
Can we hold a celebration other than a wedding at The Cloisters?
Yes. Your Wedded Advisor can plan a vow renewal, anniversary, milestone birthday or honeymoon at The Cloisters. Tell us what you are celebrating when you enquire.
Can we marry legally at The Cloisters?
Visitors can marry in a civil ceremony at a town hall or approved venue, with documents translated and legalised. Check the current rules with the Australian Embassy in Rome, and see the steps on our Italy page.

Ask a Wedded Advisor

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