Flight
Florence and Pisa are the closest airports to fly into. Pisa is about a 75min drive and Florence is about a 1hr & 50min drive. Airports a bit further away are Milan & Rome. Milan is more affordable to fly into and about a 4hr drive or a 6hr train. Direct flights are available if you choose to fly into Rome from CLT. From Rome, it is about a 5hr drive or a 5.5hr train.
Rental Car
If you choose to rent a car, please note that Italy requires an International Driving Permit (IDP) which can be obtained for $15 at any AAA office in the US before your trip. There are limited parking spaces at the villa. Please consider carpooling with your friends or family if you plan to rent a car. Public transportation is available most of the way to the villa. There are both trains and buses nearby. We can arrange transportation from the bus or train station to the villa if you travel by public transit. The final option is a private car hire. This would probably be the most expensive option, but the least stressful and most scenic option. *Please let us know if you plan on renting a car so we can ensure enough parking space for everyone. If you need assistance with trip planning, we are happy to help.
House Or Rental
Costola will not only be the location of our wedding, but it is also where immediate family and the bridal party will be staying for the week. Costola is an old monastery that was built in the 1400s. The monastery and pool house have eleven bedrooms and ten bathrooms *Please note that there is limited parking at the villa.
Hotel
There are many bed and breakfasts, VRBO, and AirBNB options to choose from in the surrounding cities. Castelnuovo di Garfagana (10 min drive) and Barga (15 min drive) are the most accessible. If you need assistance finding accommodations close by, please let us know. We are happy to assist or answer any questions.
Travel Note
If you take a train anywhere in Italy, make sure you validate your ticket before you get on the train. Make sure your passports do not expire within six months of returning home and allow yourself time to obtain a new one at least a few months before your trip. **UPDATE 6/9/2025- ETIAs have now been postponed until 2026 so there is no need to worry about this!** There is a new travel requirement that Europe is implementing. It is set to take effect at some point in the 2nd half of 2025, but we will keep you informed on this. It is called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). The fee is 7 Euro and you will need to fill out an application online. More information can be found at this website: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en. Keep in mind that travel may be interrupted by any number of things. Please give yourself plenty of time to get there.