Carlo Ponti, the 56-year-old son of Sofia Loren, has gotten married. His bride is Mariam Sharmanashvili, a Georgian woman 20 years his junior.

The wedding ceremony took place at the Samtavro Monastery – one of the oldest Christian sites in Georgia and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was there that Carlo converted to Orthodoxy shortly before the wedding. Many believe he changed his faith for his young beloved.

For the special occasion, the bride chose a modest white dress with a veil, while the groom wore attire reminiscent of traditional Georgian clothing.

Carlo is the elder son of legendary Italian actress Sofia Loren and film producer Carlo Ponti, whose marriage lasted from 1966 until 2007. Despite her age (90), Loren personally attended the ceremony.

Carlo showed a passion for music from an early age and went on to become a renowned conductor. His bride, Mariam, works as a fitness trainer. Shortly before the wedding, she posted photos from her bachelorette party on social media.

Interestingly, the couple’s romance began with a simple comment on social media: Carlo wrote to Mariam, «You are beautiful» – and that was the start of their relationship. Previously, Carlo was married to Hungarian violinist Andrea Meszaros. Both he and Mariam have children from previous relationships.

Photo: Instagram @mariamsharmanashvili, @maestrocarloponti