Bianca & Joseph: A Renaissance Residency at Villa Mangiacane

The Destination: San Casciano in Val di Pesa, Florence

The Venue: Villa Mangiacane

The Vibe: Editorial, Intimate, & Historically Soulful

Duration: September 17–20, 2025

Ceremony Type: Symbolic Garden Ceremony

The Vision: An Editorial Sanctuary in the Heart of Chianti

For Bianca and Joseph, a discerning couple from the United States, the goal was to bypass the “traditional” wedding aesthetic in favor of something more Editorial—a celebration where the history of the villa and the unfiltered beauty of the landscape did the heavy lifting. IWP Italian Wedding Planners designed a four-day residency that allowed guests to fully inhabit the Florentine spirit, moving from casual courtyard welcomes to a grand garden finale.

The aesthetic was built on “Intellectual Luxury”: appreciating the weathered stone, the Renaissance frescoes, and the golden hour shadows that stretch across the vineyards of San Casciano.

The Setting: The Machiavelli Legacy

Villa Mangiacane is not just a hotel; it is an architectural icon, originally designed with input from Michelangelo himself. For American couples seeking a deep connection to Italian history, this venue offers a sense of “Stealth Wealth” that is impossible to replicate. The villa’s position overlooking Florence allows guests to feel the proximity of the city while remaining completely secluded in the Tuscan greenery.

The symbolic ceremony took place in the villa’s terraced gardens. Against the backdrop of cypress trees and rolling hills, Bianca and Joseph exchanged vows in a setting that felt like a contemporary editorial for a high-fashion magazine—quiet, composed, and deeply romantic.

Design Concept: Raw Elegance & Garden Textures

The creative direction focused on “Organic Sophistication,” leaning into the natural beauty of the Villa Mangiacane grounds.

• The Visual Narrative: Rather than overpowering the historic site with artificial décor, the design focused on enhancing the Garden & Greenery vibe. The styling remained minimalist and editorial, allowing the textures of the 15th-century villa to provide the primary visual interest.
• The Beauty Brief: Anna Kalytyak curated a look for Bianca that was the definition of “Editorial Luminous”—a sophisticated, high-fashion style that felt effortless and raw, perfectly suited for the Tuscan light.
• The Intimate Scale: By keeping the guest list tight, the celebration maintained a “family residency” atmosphere. Dinner was served alfresco, where the focus remained on curated tablescapes and the soulful energy of long-form conversation under the stars.

Capturing the Soul: Matteo Coltro

To document a wedding of this specific editorial caliber, we collaborated with Matteo Coltro. His photography is celebrated for its cinematic, un-posed quality and its ability to capture the authentic “feel” of a place. Every frame of Bianca and Joseph’s four-day journey—from the quiet mornings on the terrace to the high-fashion portraits against the villa’s frescoes—feels like a piece of art, preserving the legacy of their Tuscan union with grace and monumental style.

The Creative Team (Portfolio Credits)

• Planning & Design: [IWP Italian Wedding Planners / Sposiamovi]
• Venue: Villa Mangiacane, Florence
• Photography: Matteo Coltro (@matteocoltro_weddings)
• Beauty: Anna Kalytyak (@annakalytyak)
• Full Credits: Available in the [IWP Technical Report]