The Rocco Forte Hotels have opened their seventh location in Italy with Villa Igiea – and it is not just another five-star property like many others: The historic Art Nouveau palace in Palermo was built in 1900 at the height of the Belle Époque as a luxury hotel directly on the sea and has since been considered one of the most popular retreats for crowned heads and Hollywood stars in Sicily.
Edward VII of England, the King of Siam, Gustav VI of Sweden, Beatrice of Holland, King Carlos of Spain, Claudia Cardinale, Sophia Loren, Burt Lancaster and Alain Delon were just a few of the many celebrity guests who came and went here over the years. In 2019, Rocco Forte Hotels finally acquired the property to reopen it after a two-year restoration.
100 rooms and suites in a typical Sicilian ambience
The famous Basile Hall, the frescoed bar and the mirrored ballroom have been restored to all their beauty during the renovation, while the 78 rooms and 22 suites welcome their guests in a typically Sicilian ambience with precious antiques and sumptuous fabrics in tranquil shades. Classic parquet flooring and exquisite Carrara marble are designed to keep guests cool even in the hottest summer.
Dine in the mirror salon and relax in the spa by the sea
Guests can dine in the style of a grand hotel in the mirrored salon of the “Florio Restaurant”, on the romantic terrace or relax by the pool. The bar serves Sicilian aperitifs with a view of the garden. Relaxation awaits in the spa directly by the sea. In summer, an excursion by boat to the breathtaking beach of Mondello is inviting.
The perfect complement to the urban Villa Igiea is the Verdura Resort of Rocco Forte Hotels, located just 90 minutes by car from Palermo on the Sicilian coast. Room rates at Villa Igiea start at EUR 536 per night in June, EUR 670 in September and EUR 590 in October (including breakfast, taxes and fees). In July and August they are significantly higher.
Click here for the website of Villa Igiea
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