The Soul of a Terzo di Danciano Wedding in Tuscany. The enchanted destination wedding of Jeninah and George captured by wedding photographer Emiliano Russo.
- Luca Francia & Kriszti VanSlyke
- Apr 5
- 3 min read
Hosting destination weddings with couples from around the world is a great honor and joy for us at Terzo di Danciano. We get to know the newlyweds as well as their closest family members and friends in a very intimate way. During these events we also have a chance to collaborate with exceptional wedding professionals. We get to know and closely work with amazing photographers, videographers, florists, wedding planners, musicians, celebrants, catering companies, DJs, hair-dressers, make-up artists, gelato vendors and more.
In this blog we would like to share some brilliant photos and excerpts from Wedding Photographer Emiliano Russo from what he recently shared on his website about Jeninah and George's wedding, about us and our venue. For the full article with many-many more photos please see the link below!
"The journey to Terzo di Danciano is an experience in itself. As you leave the historic center of Cortona and wind your way into the Pierle Valley, the landscape begins to shift. The hills become more pronounced, and the sense of isolation becomes a luxury. This valley was once a vital strategic corridor between Tuscany and Rome, contested by the powerful Medici family and the Papal States. Today, that ancient tension has been replaced by a profound silence, a stillness that makes you feel as though time has finally decided to slow down. When you finally see the villa, a restored Renaissance fortress dating back to the 1200s, you understand why Jeanina and George fell in love with it."
"The Architectural Soul of Terzo di Danciano
To understand the magic of a Terzo di Danciano wedding Tuscany, one must first understand the villa itself. It is not just a building; it is a masterpiece of restoration. Luca Francia, the owner and an artist himself, spent thirteen years meticulously bringing this place back to life. He didn’t just fix the walls; he listened to them. Throughout the property, you can find original frescoes, ancient marks, and indentations that were carefully preserved to honor the centuries of secrets held within the plaster."
"The villa is a maze of beauty. The main house features ten bedrooms and eight bathrooms, each with its own character. There is the San Carlo room, which was once a bustling wash room where water was drawn from the property’s single well, now transformed into a serene sanctuary. Then there is the Golfo Mistico, where during restoration, Luca discovered drawings etched into the plaster by a couple in love centuries ago. Imagine the weight of that history as you prepare for your own wedding. It is these details that make Terzo di Danciano so much more than a venue. It is a place where your own story becomes a new chapter in a narrative that has been unfolding since the 13th century."
"As a photographer, I am constantly looking at textures and how they interact with light. The walls here are made of earth, sand, and lime, and the ceilings often feature the ancient “canniccio” technique, which creates a lovely diffused effect for my lens. The central staircase is a portal to another time, decorated in shades of rose, taupe, and ochre, with anatomical sketches that echo the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci. When I am walking through these corridors, I am always mindful of the myriad footsteps that passed here before."
"The Warmth of Luca and Kriszti
One of the most remarkable aspects of this wedding was the presence of the hosts, Luca and Kriszti. In the world of destination weddings, it is rare to find owners who are so personally involved. They don’t just provide a space; they provide a home. They treated all of us as if we were part of the family. Luca’s refined eye for aesthetics and Kriszti’s “magical knack” for making everyone feel welcome created an atmosphere that put the couple and their guests at ease in a way I have never seen before. They were there for every moment, not as supervisors, but as participants. When the stress of a wedding day would typically start to creep in, Kriszti would appear with a warm smile or a perfect recommendation that would immediately diffuse the tension. Their motto, “your joy is our joy,” is something they live by every single day."
Thank you Jeninah and George for allowing us to share your beautiful wedding photos. Thank you Emiliano Russo for feauturing us on your website. For full article and many more photos click below:
