It hosted kings, a Tsar and Hollywood stars. Now the newly resurrected Villa Igiea, once at the centre of society and Belle Époque aristocracy in Europe, is again celebrating Sicilian glamour, paying homage to its storied past.
Originally built as a private palazzo at the end of the 19th century, the Florio family purchased and restored Villa Igiea, transforming it into one of the most luxurious hotels in Sicily.
As a meeting place of the Edwardian high society, The Grand Hotel Villa Igiea welcomed royalty, dignitaries and Hollywood luminaries, among them Tsar Nicholas II and King Edward VII and George V of Great Britain. Meanwhile, the likes of Baron Rothschild and John Pierpont Morgan would arrive by yacht.
Today, the 100-room Grade 1-listed landmark has emerged from a meticulous two-year renovation, every effort being made to preserve its unique heritage features while blending them with a contemporary flair to exquisite effect to provide the utmost comfort for guests.
In turn, the palazzo has been brought back its former symbol of elegance and hospitality while evoking the feeling of the private residence, which it once was.
Olga Polizzi, Director of Design of Rocco Forte Hotels, said: “Villa Igiea is one of the original truly Grand hotels of Europe. In the past it has hosted most of the royalty of Europe and many heads of state, and is much loved by the people of Palermo.”
“The design looks and feels as if it has always been there, though the hotel has gone through a massive refurbishment. Much of the interiors have been sourced locally and there are many Sicilian touches. Villa Igiea has an illustrious past and now I feel it has been reborn as one of the most beautiful hotels in the collection.”
Every effort has been made to preserve Villa Igiea’s unique heritage, both in the Terrace Bar, above, and suites such as the one below
Architects Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen of Nicholas Haslam Studios added: “Working on Villa Igiea was like bringing a sleeping beauty back to life. The location, the history and the architecture have created a truly unique beauty.
“Our responsibility was to preserve this magic and combine the comfort and luxuries of today. This meeting place of the Edwardian high society is now ready to be the Grand Hotel Villa Igiea of the 21st Century.”
In addition to the location, the designers drew inspiration from the building, how the Florio family lived as well as the Edwardian and La Belle Époque periods in which Villa Igiea was built.
This extraordinary time in history is reflected throughout the hotel with rattan furniture as well as Carrara marble, which contrasts with locally sourced Sicilian marbles and tiles.
And the jewel in Villa Igiea’s crown, the Sala Basile, with its Sicilian Art Nouveau style murals by the revered painter Ettore de Maria Bergler, acted as a colour chart for the hotel’s interior design.
Guests can travel through time to the peak of La Belle Époque in Palermo, where the Florio family’s most distinguished guests would have dined in the original Louis XVI hall.
Now named the Florio Restaurant, decadent interiors pay homage to the era’s elegance with a restrained colour scheme and soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, which bathe the space in soft natural light and reveal views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The decadent decor of Florio Restaurant pays homage to the hotel’s Belle Époque history
The Villa Igiea Spa offers a sensory, Mediterranean journey with treatments curated by Irene Forte using her Sicilian-inspired products. The relaxation area calms and soothes with blue and white Sicilian majolica tiles and natural rattan furnishings, with bursts of colour from hanging bowls and plates and Sicilian tableware in the centre of the room.
Rates start at €416+ VAT, including breakfast.
