Puglia wedding venues: masserie, the coast and the white towns

Choosing a wedding venue in Puglia

The first choice is the setting: the countryside, the sea or a historic town. In the countryside you will find the masserie, surrounded by olive groves and often with rooms for your guests. On the coast there are beach clubs and hotels right on the water. And in towns like Ostuni, Monopoli and Polignano a Mare, you can combine a ceremony in the centre with a reception nearby.

Distances in Puglia are short, but it is worth keeping the ceremony and the reception close together, especially in summer. A venue where everything happens in one place makes the day easier for your guests and leaves more time for photographs.

Masserie: Puglia’s classic wedding venue

A masseria is an old fortified farm estate, usually whitewashed, with a courtyard, thick stone walls and olive groves all around. Many have been restored as hotels, so the ceremony, the aperitivo, dinner and the party can all take place in one venue – and your guests can sleep there too.

For a photographer, a masseria is a gift: white walls that reflect soft light, ancient olive trees, long tables set outside and, in the evening, lanterns and candles. Many of the weddings in the countryside of Puglia take place in a masseria. Other masserie and resorts that couples from abroad often choose in the Puglia countryside include Masseria Grieco, Nina Trulli Resort, Masseria Angiulli Piccolo, Masseria Calderisi, Tenuta Pistola, Masseria Amastuola and Masseria Salamina.

Borgo Egnazia and the masserie of Fasano and Savelletri

The countryside around Fasano and Savelletri is home to some of Puglia’s best-known wedding venues. Borgo Egnazia is probably the most famous of all, and the area also has masserie such as Masseria Torre Coccaro, Masseria Torre Maizza, Masseria Don Luigi, Masseria Alchimia and Masseria Parco della Grava. It is the part of Puglia many British couples choose, with olive groves on one side and the beach clubs of the coast on the other.

If you are considering a Borgo Egnazia wedding or one of the masserie nearby, tell me which venue you have in mind, and we can talk about how to make the most of it in your photographs.

Ostuni, the white city

Ostuni rises on a hill of whitewashed houses above the olive groves, and in the evening light it glows. I have photographed couples in its old streets, and it is one of the most romantic backdrops in Puglia. In the countryside around the town, masserie such as Masseria Montalbano, Masseria Moroseta and Masseria Le Carrube are loved for their architecture and their food.

Monopoli

Monopoli is a lively seaside town with a historic harbour, a good choice if you want your guests to have somewhere to explore during their stay. Nearby, couples choose places like Masseria Spina Resort, Pettolecchia La Residenza and Tenuta Monacelle, so you can combine a countryside reception with a town full of life a few minutes away.

Polignano a Mare and Coco Beach

Polignano a Mare sits on limestone cliffs above a turquoise sea and is one of the most photogenic towns in Puglia. A few kilometres away, Coco Beach Club offers a ceremony right on the seafront – I have photographed a wedding there, and it is a perfect choice if you dream of getting married by the sea. You can see that wedding on my Polignano a Mare page. Another venue by the sea that couples choose along this coast is Plenilunio Punta Paradiso.

Alberobello, Cisternino and the Valle d’Itria

Inland, the Valle d’Itria is the land of the trulli, the round stone houses with conical roofs. Alberobello is the most famous town, and Cisternino and Martina Franca are just as charming. I have photographed a wedding in Cisternino, where the bride sat down with the locals on a bench in the old town – you can see the photo on this page.

Practical tips for your Puglia venue

Some things to think about when you choose:

• Summers are hot – plan the ceremony for the late afternoon and the portraits for the golden hour
• Keep the ceremony and the reception close together, or choose a venue where both can take place
• Check whether your guests can stay at the venue or nearby
• The nearest airports are Bari and Brindisi
• Ask the venue about the ceremony options – the options depend on the town and the venue
• Send me your venue and date, and I will tell you if I am free