Villa Igiea, A Rocco Forte Hotel
Palermo’s iconic Villa Igiea, A Rocco Forte Hotel is a luxury landmark. A turn-of-the-century villa perched at the bay’s edge, the regal hotel emits both a yesteryear glamour and 21st-century luxury.
A grande dame of Sicilian hospitality, Villa Igiea was built in the early 1900s by Ernesto Basile, a Palermo architect who helped popularize the Liberty movement (a Sicilian version of art nouveau). The resplendent centurion has courted aristocracy and celebrity for more than a century as an urban oasis hidden from the chaos of Palermo. In 2020, Rocco Forte’s design team of Philip Vergeylen, Paolo Moschino and Olga Polizzi faithfully restored the hotel to its Liberty-style origins while incorporating contemporary accents.
The 100 rooms and suites are elegantly hued in a relaxing palette, and they adeptly blend classic and contemporary touches, while showcasing Sicilian artisan heritage.
Wellness and relaxation take top priority at the luxury retreat with its Irene Forte Spa, a pampering retreat. Villa Igiea takes advantage of its seaside location with alfresco dining areas and verdant gardens.
- You will want to spend time outdoors, taking in the amazing architecture, the seaside pool and the soft sounds of the ocean breeze.
- With a castle-like facade, the historic luxury villa is a picture-perfect monument to the BelleÉpoque era. Its ground-floor event room Sala Basile is a beautifully restored piece of Sicilian art nouveau style with original murals by painter Ettore de Maria Bergler.
- Irene Forte Spa is a state-of-the-art facility with four treatment rooms, a terrace suite and a Technogym-outfitted fitness center. All products are Sicily-inspired and all-natural, crafted by Irene Forte Skincare, which attained B Corp recognition for sustainability.
- Dining is an experience. Housed in a metal pavilion with olive umbrellas shielding tables, the Alicetta Pool Bar boasts magnificent views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Igiea Terrazza Bar serves up cocktails inspired by its former owners, the illustrious Florio family, amid vaulted ceilings and original murals. Likewise, the decadent Florio Restaurant pays homage to turn-of-the-century elegance.
- Villa Igiea feels secluded, but it’s just a 10-minute taxi ride from the city center, making it an easy urban oasis.
- Polizzi infused the 72 spacious rooms and 28 suites with an old-meets-new design where less is more in a light and airy color scheme.
- Accommodations have tall ceilings, Carrara marble, handmade Sicilian tiles, large windows and, in some suites, balconies and terraces.
- Live in the lap of luxury in the Igiea, George V and Donna Franca suites, which have lavish marble, carved wood, fabulous art and seaside vistas.
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