Surprise proposal photographer
in Ortigia, Sicily.

Ortigia, the tiny island heart of Siracusa, might be the most romantic place in Sicily to say "will you marry me?". Honey-coloured stone, sea on every side, golden light at sunset. Here's how to plan it, where to do it, and how to capture the moment without your partner ever suspecting a thing.

01Choose the right spot

A few places in and around Siracusa are made for this moment:

• The Ortigia seafront (Lungomare di Levante), open sea, dramatic light, room for a photographer to stay hidden.
• The Lungomare Alfeo, the west-side promenade from the Fonte Aretusa to Castello Maniace, right into the sunset.
• Piazza Duomo, the baroque cathedral square, breathtaking at blue hour when it's quieter.
• Via Pompeo Picherali, the little street from Piazza Duomo down to Fonte Aretusa, with the sea at the end. It's where Kenny proposed to Sara: read how we kept it a surprise.
• A vintage sailboat, or your own yacht, at sunset, the most unforgettable option: just the two of you on the water, the city glowing behind you.
• Fonte Aretusa, the legendary freshwater spring with papyrus, intimate and full of history.
• The hidden alleys of Ortigia, warm stone walls and flowers, perfect for a private, candid moment.
• La Giudecca & Piazza Archimede, the old Jewish quarter and the square with the Diana Fountain, quieter and just as beautiful as the main sights.
• Spiaggia Minareto, the private beach south of the city, if you are staying at the resort or on the Maniace peninsula.
• A vineyard picnic outside the city, like Jamie and Georgie's surprise proposal at Cantine Pupillo: a blanket on the lawn, a bottle of wine, then photos in the garden of a castle.

If you are cruising the Sicilian coast and arriving in Siracusa on your own boat or yacht, a proposal on deck as you round Ortigia into the Porto Grande is about as private and as cinematic as it gets. I can board at the Marina Yachting pontoon, or follow in a tender and photograph the moment from the water.

A sunset proposal aboard a vintage sailboat, Ortigia, Siracusa

02Time it with the golden hour

The hour before sunset gives you the soft, warm light that makes Sicily unforgettable, and the most flattering photos. In summer that's roughly 7:30–8:30pm, in spring and autumn closer to 6:00–7:00pm. Plan the proposal for about 40 minutes before sunset so you still have light for the celebration photos afterwards.

03Keep it a surprise

The secret to a genuine reaction is simple: your partner shouldn't know a camera is there. I work discreetly from a distance, blending in with the people around, so the photos capture the real moment, the tears and the laughter, exactly as they happen. We agree on a signal and a precise spot in advance, I'm already in position, and you simply walk in and live it.

Two real surprise proposals

Kenny & Sara, Via Pompeo Picherali, Ortigia

I waited in the street like any other tourist and asked them to take my photo. When I offered to return the favour, Kenny got down on one knee. Then a walk instead of stiff poses: Fonte Aretusa, the Marina and Piazza Duomo, with a few shots in a vintage style.

Read Kenny and Sara's story →

Jamie & Georgie, Cantine Pupillo, near Syracuse

A wine picnic on the lawn of a historic winery. I stayed far away and photographed the proposal without Georgie ever knowing I was there, then we walked into the garden of Castello Solacium. No stiff poses.

Read Jamie and Georgie's story →

04A few practical tips

• Protect the ring in a flat pocket, ring boxes create a bulge.
• Have a backup plan for weather; Ortigia has beautiful covered corners.
• Dress a touch nicer than usual without giving it away, light colours photograph beautifully against the stone and sea.
• Tell me the story, how you met, what she/he loves, so the photos feel like you.

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