Paulo Ruspoli & Tosca Augustin
British-Filipino lawyer celebrates marriage with Brazilian-Italian entrepreneur in his castle
It was a modern fairy tale that began in Brazil. With side trips to the Philippines in between. And its happy ending came with a wedding celebration in a castle in Italy.
Born in London, Tosca Augustin was raised like a princess by her parents, who sent her to Le Rosey in Switzerland, after which she proceeded to Westminster University and UCL, and finished a master of laws degree at Columbia University in New York in 2014. Going to Brazil to handle a legal case, she met Paulo Ruspoli, an entrepreneur with a princely demeanor whose father was Brazilian and mother, Italian. They were in their 20s then.
Fast forward: Tosca, who had established a wellness center in Portugal four years ago, thought of bringing her yoga and meditation retreats to foreign tranquil venues. A castle in Europe, perhaps? Her friends said: Why not contact that Italian guy with a castle?
“Definitely! Let’s do it,” Paulo responded on Facebook.
‘What I like best about Tosca is her delicatesse,’ says Giada Ruspoli. ‘Paulo is such a kind gentleman,’ says Tetta Agustin.
It was in Castello Ruspoli where Tosca and Paulo fell in love with each other. From just clubbing and dancing in Brazil years ago, they had deep, soul-searching experiences in the castle. “It was there where we discovered our true selves. I knew then that he was the one,” Tosca sighed.
In March 2023, they were engaged. Paulo invited Tosca to Brazil, where he proposed and put an engagement ring on her finger—a family heirloom with diamonds belonging to Paulo’s great-great-grandmother Franca Florio.
“Tosca helped me through difficult times of my life,” Paulo revealed during their wedding reception. “Now she’s my rock, giving me strength, kindness and support.” Paulo was still healing then from the death of his father, Luiz Misasi. “I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you,” he told Tosca.
In turn, Tosca said in her speech: “To the guy that stole my heart: I love how caring, sweet and thoughtful you are. Your values have always been admirable. You are so grounded and humble. You always show the importance of family, and love and respect for one another. You showed me how to love unconditionally.”
Paulo’s mother, Giada, said: “I am very excited because they love each other very much. Tosca is smart, but what I like most about her is her delicatesse.”
Giada hopes the couple will make the castle their home even as they have to shuttle between Lisbon and Sao Paulo.
Paulo and Tosca are really citizens of the world. Paulo belongs to the Ruspoli clan, which historically is one of the great aristocratic families of Rome, but is originally from Florence where, in the 13th century, a Ruspoli married a countess of Vignanello, where the castle is located.
In 1708, a grandson, Francesco Marescotti Ruspoli, headed the clan regiment and forced the Austrians to retreat in a battle, defending the papal state. Pope Clement XI named him the first Prince of Cerveteri. The title was then passed on to the firstborn son of each generation. The current head of the clan is Prince Francesco Maria Ruspoli, the 10th prince in the line of papal aristocracy.
“Paulo prefers not to be called a prince,” said Tosca. “He would never say he’s a prince.” Even if he has spent much of his life in a castle.
Paulo was 12 years old when Castello Ruspoli was bequeathed to his mother Giada and her sister Claudia. The sisters have a respect for the castle and the work ethic required to preserve it.
“It is very special to live in a building that constantly reminds you of your past and a history you carry within yourself,” Giada once said in a Vogue interview.
“This is where you have your sense of roots. My vision is a sense of responsibility towards the past. I don’t want to be the one, after 500 years in our family, to let go,” added Claudia.
Castello Ruspoli is hailed as the best-preserved Renaissance garden in Rome.
Tosca’s home base has always been Cannes in France, where her parents Tetta Agustin and Christian Baverey enjoy sailing, in a yacht named after Tosca. For decades, the couple joined yearly car rallies in Europe, using the vintage cars in Christian’s collection. They met decades ago in Paris where Tetta was famously a runway model for designers like Givenchy and YSL. Tetta’s career change turned her into a businesswoman and realtor.
The couple taught Tosca to be hardworking and independent, and to remain humble and down-to-earth.
“We love Paulo, he is such a kind gentleman,” Tetta exclaimed.
For this wedding, friends flew to Rome from the United States, Brazil, Portugal and other European countries. Among the 400-plus guests were 50-plus Filipinos.
Thus, there was a blend of Italian, Brazilian and Filipino cultures in this wedding held in the castle town of Vignanello, an hour’s drive from Rome.
The Ruspoli family is closely connected to the Vatican, so a traditional Catholic wedding was held last May 24 at the Basilica di Sabina all’Aventine, in rites presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle together with four priests. Floral designer Andrea Patrizi created an Italian Renaissance garden inside the church, inspired by the castle garden. For that garden feel, guests sat on wrought-iron chairs.''
For her wedding gown, Tosca searched in Paris and London, and finally chose Philippa Lepley, who did a classic duchess satin gown with a removable overskirt. Her veil by Luisa Beccaria had white and green flowers woven into it.
Music was provided by the 40-person Schola Cantorum di Roma, which sang processionals by Mozart and Pachelbel, under the baton of Maestro Giovanni Gava.
“I wanted the choir to also sing Bayan Ko, but sadly it was not considered church music,” said Tetta.
Still, Philippine culture was proudly projected, as Filipino guests came in ternos and barongs, and other Filipiniana outfits.
From the church, the bride and groom drove to the reception site, the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Romani, in a 1964 Lancia Flaminia from Tosca’s father.
For the Day 1 dinner, guests enjoyed the sumptuous antipasti and the finest drinks at the courtyard, before they were ushered onto the terrace for dinner, with a romantic sunset view of Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica. On the menu were dishes well-chosen by the hosts.
For Day 2 at Castello Ruspoli, guests came in colorful outfits to celebrate the wedding. Dinner buffets—awesome, to say the least—were served at the gardens as well as the castle’s dining halls. Even the dungeon was used for a dance party with DJs that lasted till 7 a.m.
After dinner, guests proceeded to the town hall right in front of the castle where a Brazilian street party, reminiscent of the Carnival in Rio, was held. Paulo’s Brazilian father would have cheered from heaven.
Musicians from Lisbon and Rome, as well as dancers from Rio, led by the artist Raquel Poti, created a festive air. Medieval Italian flag wavers and a band, the sbandieratori, joined in the revelry. Onstage, Paulo and Tosca, with their parents Giada, Tetta and Christian, led the singing and dancing. Tetta told the crowd: “All of you, friends of Tosca, you are also my sons and daughters!” To which Giada exclaimed: ”Viva Vignanello! Viva Brazilia! Viva Filipinas!”
For this town celebration, Tosca wore an exquisite white gown with ballooning sleeves by her godfather, Japanese designer Yuki Torimaru (he designed for Princess Di and his couture pieces are on display at V&A Museum in London).
For the street party, she changed into a minidress by Nara Niro, with a headpiece by Magnetic Midnight, fashioned like a medieval crown.
The surprise of the evening was a show of amazing fireworks dedicated to the town’s patron saint, Hyacintha Mariscotti. Most amazing was the finale: fireworks cascading from the castle rooftop to the streets, like a pristine white waterfall. So unbelievably stunning, one could only imagine it in a magical fairy tale. “We have never seen anything like this,” guests exclaimed.
Guests went home that night with memories of Ruspoli Castle with its coat of arms, antique artworks and furniture, medieval portraits of princes and charming aristocrats from a family tree that has lived there for the past 500 years. But will it be just a fairytale castle for dreamy events, or a remnant of history for tourists’ viewing?
Perhaps a British lawyer with Philippine roots, and an Italian-Brazilian businessman with a princely demeanor, will make it a sanctuary of wellness, happily ever after.