Rossella and Tonino got married in Assisi on August 28, 2026: a ceremony at the Cathedral of San Rufino, portraits under the colonnade of the Basilica of Saint Francis, and a reception at Borgo Antichi Orti — a former Benedictine monastery at the foot of the Basilica, just outside the city walls.
Their day moved through Assisi from top to bottom, like a pilgrimage in reverse: from the Cathedral in the heart of the old town, down to the Basilica for couple portraits, and then outside the walls, into the gardens where monks once grew medicinal herbs back in the fifteenth century. The same path pilgrims have walked for six hundred years, but with a wedding vow in the middle.
I already knew them before the wedding, and one thing was clear from the start: this day wasn't going to be just about the two of them. Their little boy was at the centre of everything — the vows, the looks, the celebration. This wasn't a wedding that marked a beginning: it was a coming together, a way of naming something that already existed.
Two neighbours who found each other
Rossella and Tonino were neighbours — she a university freshman, he already a working engineer. For years they saw each other without really seeing. Then life put them face to face again at the right moment, and this time they didn't let it slip away.
When I ask couples to describe their relationship in five words, the answers say more than any biography. Theirs: solid, complicit, cheerful, ironic, sincere. And their wedding in three: music, enthusiasm, emotions. Every one of those words showed up, from the first minute to the last.
Getting ready
Rossella got ready at home, in Via degli Olivi in Assisi. Hair at ten in the morning, then makeup by Simona Toni at noon, and finally the dress in the early afternoon.
These are the preparations I love to photograph most: the ones at home, with window light and time that moves slowly. Home is where the bride is most herself, where her mother's hands fastening the dress are worth more than any set. The gown was from Elsa Sposi in Trevi — and the dressing, that transition from the gown on its hanger to the bride ready to leave, is always the first chapter of the story.
The ceremony at the Cathedral of San Rufino
At 4:30 pm, the ceremony at the Cathedral of San Rufino, the mother church of Assisi. It's a twelfth-century Romanesque cathedral with a white Subasio stone façade and a monumental interior. Getting married here means having history above your head.
Photographically it's a spacious environment, with light entering high through the nave windows. I don't use flash during the ceremony: I work with fast lenses and let the cathedral's own light tell the story. The bride's entrance, the couple meeting at the altar, the exchange of rings — these are minutes that don't repeat, and the best images are those where no one notices there was a photographer.
The moments Rossella and Tonino cared about most were four: the entrance, the meeting, the rings, the exit. They're the same ones I always watch for, because they're the ones where the emotion is real and unscripted. The exit from the cathedral at 5:45 pm was the first breath after the tension of the rite — and the moment the day changed its rhythm.
Portraits under the colonnade of the Basilica of Saint Francis
After the ceremony we took a break for couple portraits under the colonnade of the Basilica of Saint Francis. It's one of the most beautiful spots in Assisi for photographs: the columns create a regular rhythm, the warm Subasio stone catches light even in the late afternoon, and the background opens onto the valley without distractions.
The light that day was perfect. A warm but hazy sky: no direct sun, no harsh shadows under the arches, just a soft, enveloping light that made every shot feel natural. When the sky is like that, you don't need to wait for golden hour — golden hour lasts all afternoon. It's the kind of condition that makes a photographer smile inside, because you know every angle will work.
Rossella and Tonino wanted natural photos, no constructed poses. I speak very little during the couple session: I walk with them, suggest a direction, and let them forget about me. The best images come when they stop thinking about the camera and go back to being themselves.
Arriving at Borgo Antichi Orti
The reception took place at Borgo Antichi Orti, at the foot of the Basilica of Saint Francis, just outside Assisi's walls. The choice wasn't accidental: from the Cathedral to the Basilica, from the Basilica to the Borgo. The day physically moved through the city, and each transition was part of the story.
Borgo Antichi Orti was founded in 1444 as a Benedictine monastery built extra moenia — outside the walls — to welcome pilgrims heading to the Basilica of Saint Francis. The monks grew medicinal herbs in terraced gardens and made healing remedies from them. Today that monastic complex has become an event venue, but the original structure remains: the stones, the arches, the terraces and ten thousand square metres of greenery are the same as six hundred years ago.
Rossella and Tonino chose the Garden — the space with a direct view of the Basilica, which at sunset catches that orange light that only exists in Assisi in August. With 120 guests, the size was just right: large enough to breathe, intimate enough to feel the celebration.
Golden hour in the Borgo's gardens
Before dinner we carved out a second moment for couple photos, this time in the historic gardens — the Hortuli Benedetti, those terraced gardens where monks once grew plants according to medieval botanical principles, with quadrants representing earth, water, air and fire.
The sunset over the gardens was the most beautiful moment of the day. The light dropped behind the hills and the green filled with warm tones: that half hour when Assisi turns golden and everything seems to slow down. Rossella and Tonino had explicitly asked for it, and we had planned the day's timeline precisely to catch it. Golden hour isn't luck: it's a choice that has to be planned in advance, not left to chance.
Dinner and celebration in the Garden
Dinner was served in the Garden, with the illuminated Basilica as backdrop. The catering was by Il Cuoco Innamorato, working with seasonal products — many of them grown in the Borgo's own Hortuli. It's the kind of cooking that needs no introduction: Umbrian, direct, built on the quality of its ingredients.
After dinner, the cake cutting between half past ten and eleven, then the celebration moved into its second act: music, dancing, open bar. The first dance was to Stand By My Woman by Lenny Kravitz — a choice that says everything about the tone of the evening: no whispered romantic slow dance, but a rock song to sing along to with friends.
The three things Rossella and Tonino wanted to remember from this day: their vows, the emotion in their son's eyes, and their friends' joy. Looking through the photos, all three are there.
Getting married at Borgo Antichi Orti: what to know
If you're considering this venue for your wedding in Assisi, here's what I've learned from working here.
Where it is
Borgo Antichi Orti is at Via Pallareto 1, Assisi (PG), at the foot of the Basilica of Saint Francis, just outside the city walls. It's easy to reach by car; Perugia airport is the nearest, and the train stations of Assisi and Foligno are just a few kilometres away.
The history
Founded in 1444 as a Benedictine monastery, it was a centre of hospitality and study, and a stop for pilgrims heading to the Basilica. The monks grew medicinal herbs and tended the terraced gardens that are now the venue's natural setting. The complex has been restored while preserving its original layout.
The spaces
The Borgo offers several options for receptions:
- The Garden — up to 150 guests, panoramic view of the Basilica, magical at sunset. This is where Rossella and Tonino celebrated.
- Botanical Lab — indoor space for 150 guests, open year-round, opening onto the garden.
- Hortuli Benedetti — the historic gardens, up to 200 people, with a central arena.
- The Pergola — covered structure, up to 45 guests, overlooking the greenery.
- Re Tartù agli Orti — stone and wooden beams, 50 seats indoors plus a large courtyard.
How many guests
The spaces work well from about 40 to 200 guests, depending on the area chosen. The Garden, the most sought-after space for summer weddings, holds up to 150 people.
Staying at the Borgo
The complex has 12 residences, including a panoramic suite for the couple. There's a pool, a spagyric workshop, yoga areas and free parking with electric charging stations. Having the couple stay on site changes the day's rhythm: getting ready becomes more relaxed, and nobody watches the clock in the evening.
The best time of year
From May to September, when the outdoor spaces are at their best. August in Assisi brings long sunsets and that golden light on Mount Subasio that you won't find elsewhere: if you want portraits in the gardens at sunset, this is the season.
How I photograph a wedding day in Assisi
- Getting ready. Whether at home or in the Borgo's residences, I look for window light: curtains open, artificial lights off. Makeup, the dressing, the details of the gown are the first chapter.
- Ceremony. In the cathedral the light is high and the nave is wide. No flash during the rite — fast lenses and discretion. This is where the unrepeatable moments happen.
- Portraits, early afternoon. The colonnade of the Basilica of Saint Francis is ideal: light shielded by the arches, clean background, warm stone. On a hazy day like Rossella and Tonino's, every angle works.
- Golden hour. The Borgo's gardens at sunset are the space for the second couple session. The light dropping behind the hills warms the entire green: twenty minutes are enough, but they must be planned.
- Evening. The Garden with the illuminated Basilica behind. I work with mixed light and slow shutter speeds to keep the real atmosphere of the celebration, without turning the dance floor into a studio set.
If you'd like help fitting all of this into your schedule, I've written a guide on what to expect on your wedding day, with a timeline, and one on planning a stress-free wedding in Umbria.
The vendors
- Venue — Borgo Antichi Orti, Assisi · @borgoantichiorti
- Catering — Il Cuoco Innamorato · @il_cuocoinnamorato
- Makeup — Simona Toni · @simona_toni
- Wedding dress — Elsa Sposi, Trevi
- Photography — Manuel Diamanti · @manueldiamanti_photography
Gallery
FAQ
Can you get married at Borgo Antichi Orti in Assisi?
Yes. Borgo Antichi Orti is a former Benedictine monastery from 1444, at the foot of the Basilica of Saint Francis, that now hosts weddings and receptions — from the Garden overlooking the Basilica to the historic gardens accommodating up to 200 people.
Where is Borgo Antichi Orti?
At Via Pallareto 1, Assisi (PG), just outside the city walls, at the foot of the Basilica of Saint Francis. It's reachable by car, and Perugia airport is the closest.
How many guests does Borgo Antichi Orti hold?
From 40 to 200 guests depending on the space chosen. The Garden, the most popular for summer weddings, seats up to 150 guests with a panoramic view of the Basilica.
Where does the ceremony take place?
For a religious ceremony, Assisi offers the Cathedral of San Rufino, the Basilica of Santa Chiara and the old town's churches. The transfer from the church to the Borgo is short and takes you through the city. Civil and symbolic ceremonies can be held directly at the venue.
What's the best time of year to get married at Borgo Antichi Orti?
May to September, when the outdoor spaces are at their finest. In August, the late-afternoon light on Mount Subasio is extraordinary, and the sunsets over the gardens are the best moment for couple portraits.
Can you stay at Borgo Antichi Orti?
Yes, the complex has 12 residences with a panoramic suite for the couple, a pool and full amenities. Having the couple on site makes the preparations more relaxed and the evening more free.
Why choose a photographer who knows Assisi?
Because Assisi isn't just any venue: the light changes with the hours and the seasons, every corner of the city has its best moment, and knowing where to go — and when — means asking less of your time and giving you images that truly capture the place. I talk about this in the guide on choosing a wedding photographer in Umbria.
Borgo Antichi Orti is among the most enchanting venues for a wedding in Assisi that combines history, nature and a view you won't forget. You'll also find it in my guide to wedding venues in Umbria, along with over thirty other locations.
If you're thinking about getting married here, or at another venue in Umbria, take a look at my portfolio and the other wedding stories, or tell me about your wedding: I reply personally to every message.