Category: Wedding Preparations

We will officially welcome our guests on the morning of Friday, September 18th. In order to ensure attendance by as many guests as possible we have curated a selection of hotel accommodations to fit varying needs. We are pleased to provide complimentary roundtrip ground transportation for the wedding ceremony. 2Keys Travel will assist guests in securing airline and hotel reservations. Payment plans are available!! Please RSVP by May 31, 2020.

We will arrive Monday, September 14th but know many of you are planning on arriving earlier or staying later to make your trip a real vacation. For your convenience, a limited block of rooms has been held at The Minareto Seaside Luxury Resort and Villas. Although a block has not been held, we recommend The Algilá Ortigia Charme Hotel and its sister property Antico Hotel Roma 1880 because they are centrally located in Ortigia. To ensure the best possible pricing and inclusion in our group booking, we are providing contact information to our wedding travel agent and encourage you to take advantage of her services. Her packages include round-trip airfare, round trip airport ground transportation, and hotel accommodations. Whatever your travel needs may be 2Keys Travel is ready to assist you! Submit your inquiry here

You can also make your reservations independently! The City of Ortigia has many charming boutique and private rental options. Many of these properties can help arrange your airport transfer. In order to receive the best rate possible we recommend booking your hotel room before February 28th because September is a popular month for tourism in the region.

We have chosen the Island of Ortigia, in the Province of Syracuse as the setting for our celebration. The island is an extremely popular place for tourism, shopping, and entertainment. We expect to have a wonderful time and make lasting memories. Click here for more information

Ortigia (Ortygia), a small island, is the historical centre of the city of Syracuse, Sicily. The island, also known as Città Vecchia (Old City), contains many historical landmarks. The name originates from the Ancient Greek ortyx, which means “Quail”. Ortygia, being an island just off the coast, was easily transformed into a natural fortress with harbors and was big enough that it could hold a significant population in ancient times. Therefore, the history of Ortygia is synonymous with the early history of Syracuse. Ortygia is located at the eastern end of Syracuse and is separated from it by a narrow channel. Two bridges connect the island to mainland Sicily.

Syracuse (Siracusa) is a historic city on the island of Sicily, the capital of the Italian province of Syracuse. The city is notable for its rich Greek history, culture, amphitheatres, architecture, and as the birthplace of the preeminent mathematician and engineer Archimedes. This 2,700-year-old city played a key role in ancient times, when it was one of the major powers of the Mediterranean world. Syracuse is located in the southeast corner of the island of Sicily, next to the Gulf of Syracuse beside the Ionian Sea.

The city was founded by Ancient Greek Corinthians and Teneans and became a very powerful city-state. Syracuse was allied with Sparta and Corinth and exerted influence over the entirety of Magna Graecia, of which it was the most important city. Described by Cicero as “the greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all”, it equaled Athens in size during the fifth century BC. It later became part of the Roman Republic and the Byzantine Empire. Under Emperor Constans II, it served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire (663–669). After this Palermo overtook it in importance, as the capital of the Kingdom of Sicily. Eventually the kingdom would be united with the Kingdom of Naples to form the Two Sicilies until the Italian unification of 1860. In the modern day, the city is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site along with the Necropolis of Pantalica. In the central area, the city itself has a population of around 125,000 people. Syracuse is mentioned in the Bible in the Acts of the Apostles book at 28:12 as Paul stayed there. The patron saint of the city is Saint Lucy; she was born in Syracuse and her feast day, Saint Lucy’s Day, is celebrated on 13 December.

We want to take advantage of every moment with our guests during this magical occasion!

Please join us for a group excursion to experience the region’s culture and language, meet new people, explore the country, try something new, snag Instagram-worthy photos and among other things… cross something off your bucket list!

Sicily is the largest of the Italian islands, separated by the Strait of Messina and surrounded by the Ionian, the Tyrrhenian and the Mediterranean Seas. It is one of the pearls of Southern Italy and can be discovered, understood and experienced through a series of itineraries dedicated to areas of interest ranging from nature to history and traditions. Syracuse, located in the southeast region, and it’s isle of Ortigia, offer rich cultural experiences, beautiful cliffside vistas and extraordinary archaeological vestiges.

The excursion is optional and details regarding costs will be determined based upon the excursion of your choosing. (Please see the descriptions of the excursions below.) Click here to RSVP by May 31, 2020.

Mare Nostrum Tour

History and Nature Tour

Hidden Ortigia Tour

Etna and Wine Tour