02/06/2021
Top 5 castles to tie the knot
A fairy- Tale Wedding in a Greek Castle
Greece boasts many idyllic castles that form the perfect backdrop to a couple’s dream wedding. Longing for a fairytale wedding in Greece but lacking the requisite castle? Here’s a top 5 list of Greek castles highly desirable for marriage ceremonies as well as for romantic honeymoon settings! Your fairytale wedding in Greece begins...
Monemvasia
If you imagine a wedding within a medieval castle which is still alive, full of flowers, small shops, Byzantine churches and traditional stone houses, then there is a medieval fortress town waiting for you with cobbled lanes, once the haunt of emperors and princesses, all with a view of the Aegean Sea! Welcome to the castle town of Monemvasia, on the eastern coast of Laconia, in the Peloponnese. The castle and town are carved into a huge rock on a compact island that connects to the mainland by a bridge.
Once across the bridge, through the stone walls and the castle’s massive gate, you will feel like you walk back into time and you enter a fairy tale. In this atmosphere steeped in history and romance, you will find numerous options for holding your ceremony whether you opt for a civil ceremony or an Orthodox wedding. Balconies overlooking the sea, small squares, luxury hotels or even sandy beaches and many churches will satisfy any requirements for having the wedding of your dreams.
It is possible to arrange the wedding and reception within the fortress, as there are hotels and restaurants in the castle, overlooking Myrtoo Sea and affording panoramic views of the castle.
While honeymooning on the fortress you can go sightseeing at Byzantine churches, visit the archaeological museum, take a stroll around the uninhabited upper town. You can go sailing, wine touring and horseback riding, discover amazing caves and a petrified forest.
Nafplio
If getting married at picturesque Venetian houses, against stunning bay views and amongst fortresses sounds perfect, then make Nafplio your wedding venue. Natural beauty, romance, history and a comfortable stay are all to be found in this seaside town located in the northeast of the Peloponnese. The town’s rich history includes three fortresses: Akronafplia, Palamidi and Bourtzi. Palamidi is a wonderfully preserved baroque citadel built on the city’s highest point; Bourtzi is located on a small island in front of the town port and is visitable by boat; and Akronafplia is the oldest fortress featuring some sections dating back to the Bronze Age.
Nafplio with its environs lends itself to those of you, who have in mind a setting that will mark the occasion of a lifetime with its own unforgettable colour, ancient monuments and fountains surrounded by colourful sprawling vines of bougainvillea!
While honeymooning in Nafplio, there is an entire world, full of charm, magic and adventure for you to explore: orange groves, olive fields, ancient ruins and lost civilisations, the most stunning theatre in the world, Epidaurus, rural life, agrotourism, hiking, canoeing the Loussios river, sailing, swimming, scuba diving, fishing, horseback riding, wine tasting... just to name a few.
Rethymno
Did you know that Rethymno is a popular choice amongst couples who are planning to get married? The city’s dreamy atmosphere, its awe-inspiring medieval churches, and its outstanding wedding venues create the perfect setting for your wedding ceremony. Several venues also provide wedding facilities to host both your civil ceremony and reception.
While honeymooning in Rethymno, explore crystal clear seas and the town’s rich cultural heritage, taste traditional Cretan specialities, drink in breathtaking sunset views, and take romantic strolls around medieval monuments. One thing is for sure; your heart will remain in Rethymno forever!
Lindos, Rhodes
Fancy a romantic Beach Wedding in mesmerising scenery, along Rhodes stunning shoreline with a view to Lindos Castle? The village of Lindos delivers a romantic wedding destination, situated on a network of cobbled streets - all of which are entirely pedestrianised, where the only means of transport are donkeys and mopeds. The houses are small, whitewashed and sit beautifully on the hillside. On the top of the rock stands a centuries-old acropolis, commanding the archipelagos. The landscape of Lindos encapsulates the essence of Rhodes: a surprisingly felicitous blend of ancient and medieval!
Civil ceremonies as well as orthodox weddings can be arranged at the very pretty and perennially popular chapel in St Paul’s Bay with a breathtaking view to Lindos Castle. On top of that, there are many luxurious hotels as well as other unique and idyllic ceremony venues, restaurants and tavernas to host your reception.
While honeymooning in Lindos, stroll around the picturesque settlement of Lindos and pay a visit to the picture-perfect medieval captains’ residences built around pebbly courtyards. Visit the ruins of Lindos Acropolis with the Temple of Athena Lindia, the Propylea, the large Hellenistic arcade, the Byzantine chapel of Agios Ioannis and the castle of the Knights of Saint John. Or go swimming at the beaches of Lardou, Glistra, Gennadi and Kiotari, windsurfing, kite flying, jet skiing and diving. At Saint Paul’s Bay you can either relax in the azure sea or have a go at your favourite water sport!
Parga, Epirus
Sitting serenely beneath the shadow of the mighty medieval fortress, the town of Parga, with its island-like charm and narrow cobbled streets that climb to the top of the hill, exudes the atmosphere of a bygone era, steeped in history and legend. Located on southwest of Epirus region, Parga is washed by the Ionian Sea and lies between the towns of Preveza and Igoumenitsa. The Castle is a great exponent of the Venetian architecture where you can hold your dreamy ceremony. The view that overlooks the sea, the bays and the lush island of Panagia (Virgin Mary-Island) with its charming chapel will definitely take your breath away. After the ceremony you can walk down to the town centre, where a plethora of hotels, venues and restaurants will satisfy any requirements for holding the reception of your dreams.
While honeymooning in Parga, you can go for jet skiing, surfing, and scuba diving on the local beaches, river trekking to Acheron, the mythical river of Epirus. Pay a visit to the archaeological site of Dodoni and Ancient Nikopolis, the cave Perama and travel to Paxos and Antipaxos two cosmopolitan islets full of charm and elegance!
