Tsar Boris III marries Princess Giovanna of Savoy

On October 25, 1930, Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria married Princess Giovanna of Savoy, daughter of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, in Assisi. The Catholic ceremony took place at the Basilica of Saint Francis, marking a significant union between the Bulgarian monarchy and the Italian royal house.

The wedding involved complex negotiations due to the religious differences between the Orthodox Tsar and the Catholic Princess. To resolve these canonical and political hurdles, the couple held a Catholic ceremony in Italy followed by an Orthodox ceremony in Sofia, Bulgaria, on October 31, 1930, at the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

Despite heavy rain and hail during the Italian festivities, the event drew international attention, with guests including King Victor Emmanuel III, Queen Elena, former Bulgarian Tsar Ferdinand, and representatives from various European royal families. The marriage occurred during a period of significant geopolitical maneuvering for Bulgaria following the Treaty of Neuilly.