FAQs & General Info

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For all Travel & Accommodation Questions

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Please visit the Travel & Accommodations page for information about getting to and staying in Bomarzo. Before booking accommodation, please review and fill out this form if you would like to stay in Bomarzo proper and would like help booking your accommodation: https://forms.gle/R9KJHqJJrSTBEUf17 Otherwise feel free to book on your own! Contact our English-speaking wedding planner, Emmanuela Tardani, with any questions: emmanuelatardani@gmail.com | +39 333 140 8732 Her cell phone is an Italian number, so for guests traveling internationally, you may want to text or call her on Whatsapp to avoid international fees.

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Is there a wedding dress code?

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We are looking forward to seeing you in your festive finest, but there is no formal dress code for the wedding. See below for suggestions for the various events: For the Welcome Aperitivo on Friday, casual is totally fine and encouraged as it will be a daytime garden party followed by a walk in the Monster Park. If you'd like to visit the park, please bring appropriate walking shoes! For the Wedding Ceremony & Reception, elegant cocktail is suggested, but we want you to be comfortable. Avoid stilettoes as the streets are cobblestones and the reception will be in a grassy garden. Bring flats for dancing! For the Farewell Gathering on Sunday, anything casual is fine, as we will be hanging out by the pool. Don't forget your swimsuit and a towel!

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How can I see who is included in my invitation?

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On the RSVP page, enter your first and last name to unlock your RSVP form. If you're responding for yourself and a guest (or your family), you'll be able to RSVP for your entire group. If you do not have a guest included in your invitation, you'll only be prompted to RSVP for yourself. Please note which events each guest plans to attend, including children. And make sure to let us know if anyone in your party has any dietary restrictions. Thank you!

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Are my kids welcome?

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Yes! If you have kids, they are invited as well! If you have young children in strollers, please note that many of the accommodation options in Bomarzo's historic center may require you to navigate narrow passageways and possibly stairs, and you also won't be able to drive up to the entrance of some of the homes. You might be more comfortable in a guest house or B&B in the modern part of the town, or in a hotel in Viterbo. Our wedding planner Emmanuela can help you find accommodations that suit your needs.

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Will childcare be provided?

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On Saturday evening (during the reception, dinner, and dancing) we will provide childcare for infants and young children, for families who are interested. If you are interested, please let us know when you RSVP. For Friday and Sunday, we don't plan to have any formal childcare, but both events should be quite child-friendly, with a lot of space to run around and play.

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A Note about Food Options & Kids' Meals

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Traditionally at Italian weddings, it is not customary for guests to pre-select a meal option. Instead, we will choose a multi-course menu in advance that covers a number of different dishes that all guests will receive. Of course, we will try to accommodate any dietary restrictions we are made aware of in advance with alternate menus, so please get in touch if you have any concerns about the meal, especially if someone in your party has an allergy. As a note, Italian cuisine tends to be vegetarian-friendly, with meat dishes often served separately. We will do our best to select dishes that accommodate different dietary preferences and needs. For kids, the caterer will provide a separate meal for those aged 3-10. Let us know if you plan to make alternative arrangements for your child's meal. If you have an older child (11-14) who you think would prefer a child's meal, let us know and we can look into that.

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Will transportation to and from the wedding be provided?

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Depending on where the majority of guests end up staying, we may look into the option of a van that will circulate the town and possibly go to Viterbo if enough people are staying there. Until this is confirmed (in which case we will let you know) we recommend that you plan to walk or drive to the wedding. See the note about parking.

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Where can I park?

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Parking is available in a few Bomarzo public parking lots, though all are a few minutes' walk down the hill from the venue (which is in the historic center and doesn't allow cars). If you are staying somewhere that is walking distance, we recommend that you don't drive to the wedding. If you are traveling with someone who has limited mobility, it might make sense to drop off that guest inside the venue and then go park in one of the lots. Please get in touch with Emmanuela if you have any concerns or difficulty finding parking. Please note the location of the parking lots on this google map: https://drive.google.com/open?id=14yudUaZsJ358aDoYWUJ96lSgmWZQq6S3&usp=sharing

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Is Uber/Lyft available in Bomarzo?

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No. There may be private taxi companies, but they are probably limited, and you would need to call and book in advance. If this is a service you think you'll need, please get in touch with Emmanuela to ask for help.

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Can I use my cell phone in Italy?

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Check with your phone carrier about data/roaming charges while you’re abroad. We recommend turning off cellular service while you’re in airplane mode to prevent any charges once you land. Most providers offer international packages to use overseas, but it’s better to request the international plans while you’re still stateside rather than have it kick in when you arrive. In most hotels, bars, and restaurants in the city, you can also get by with just using Wi-Fi on your device (as long as Cellular service is turned off). However, in Bomarzo there may be limited public Wi-Fi, so we recommend looking into data plans. Another option is to purchase an Italian pre-paid SIM card to use in your phone. These are often inexpensive and available at the airport when you arrive.

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What should I do for money?

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Italy is on the Euro, which generally holds steady at between $1.10 and $1.20 USD to EUR, though right now, as of July 8, the exchange rate is $1.02, which is unusually good in favor of the dollar. This means that, at this exchange rate, things will be 10-20% cheaper for those coming from the US. I would recommend withdrawing EUR from your home bank now in advance of traveling to take advantage of the unusually low exchange rate, in case it starts to go back up before October, which banks are forecasting will happen in the second half of the year. Some banks allow you to order foreign currency through the mobile app or in person at the teller. Check your bank's policy. You can take money out of ATM machines in Italy with a foreign debit card. Rome is full of banks, and Bomarzo has one bank in the city center. Unless you have a no foreign transaction fee debit card, you may be charged a commission by both the local bank and your bank. Call your bank in advance and let them know you’ll be abroad so that they don't block your card when you try to use it. Though this is changing, many places around Italy are cash only, and most places that accept cards don't take Amex, so make sure to have enough cash when you are shopping, especially at open-air markets. If you use a credit card, opt to pay in the local currency (not in USD). You can exchange cash at the airport and other exchange points. You can also request euros at home from your bank. It’s not usually the best exchange rate, but with this current exchange rate it may be worth it! I don't recommend traveling with large amounts of cash on your person, so it's best to leave some in your luggage if you bring a lot. Italy isn't unsafe, but you never know! You also have to declare if you are traveling internationally with more than $10,000 in cash.

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Do I need an adapter for my electronics?

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You’ll just need a plug adapter for small appliances like chargers and laptops (usually laptops cords and cell phone chargers have their own built-in power adapters). If you’re bringing anything with a higher voltage like a hairdryer or curling iron, you’ll need a voltage converter, which lowers the voltage so it doesn't fry your appliance (Italian outlets are 220 v while US outlets are 110 v).

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What is the weather like?

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While peak summer in Italy is quite hot, by early October it will have cooled down somewhat, especially on the coast and in the hills, where Bomarzo is. It should be clear and warm, with average highs around 70 F and lows around 50 F. Early autumn in Italy is really lovely, with plenty of greenery and sunny skies. AC isn't as common as in the states in hotels, restaurants, and especially in private homes (so if you are booking an AirBnBs, make sure to check if it has AC if that is something you want, although you may not need it in October as much as you would have in the summer). Some big stores in the city do blast AC, so it's not a bad idea to carry layers with you if you plan to visit any cities.

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What kind of clothing should I bring for traveling?

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We recommend bringing mostly light, comfortable clothing, especially comfortable shoes for walking around. Italy is a historic country with a lot of old roads, even in the city. Many of them are hilly and full of cobblestones, so we advise against stilettoes - even for the wedding (which will be in a garden). If you want to wear heels, we recommend wedges. But it might get a bit chilly in the evenings, so bring some layers, like a jacket or scarf. In the event of unexpected showers, you may want to have a rain jacket as well. It's not a bad idea to bring bug spray (there may be some residual mosquitoes, although it's less common in the hilly region of Bomarzo) as well as sunscreen, even just for walking around. There are some wonderful hikes around Bomarzo (around old Etruscan burial grounds, as well as an Etruscan pyramid!) so bring hiking clothes and boots if you are interested in doing that.

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Where can I eat in Bomarzo?

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Bomarzo is a rustic small town with a few restaurants, but it does not have much of an active nightlife. It is likely you do not need a reservation but it is a good idea to call and check. If you encounter a language barrier, don't hesitate to reach out to Emmanuela for help. (If you are booking early, we can help!) Some restaurants might be closed for "siesta" between lunch and dinner (same for some shops). If you'd like a bit more of a nightlife, Viterbo, located 20 minutes away, has plenty of restaurants, bars, and even some nightclubs. Most AirBnBs will be equipped with small kitchens, so you can shop at the market and prepare food at home. Note that markets also often close in the afternoon between 1-4 pm, and are not open on Sundays. For a map of the town that includes restaurant and supermarket locations, please see here (copy and paste URL into browser): https://drive.google.com/open?id=14yudUaZsJ358aDoYWUJ96lSgmWZQq6S3&usp=sharing

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Tipping in Italy

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Service industry staff in Italy are salaried employees that don't rely on tips for their income, so tipping culture in Italy is quite different from in the US. Also, some restaurants add a service charge to the bill, either on the total, or as a per person "Pane & Coperto" fee of 1-2 Euro ("pane e coperto" means "bread and cover" and essentially covers service and the "complimentary" bread they bring to the table). Many Italians do leave a little something on the table for the waiter, often some loose change or they round up the bill to the nearest whole number, but it's not a set percentage. That said, as many American tourists do tip and staff are aware of the custom, it's not a bad idea to leave around 10% of the bill - it's not expected but it will be greatly appreciated!