The
Villa Igiea hotel is one of the most luxurious establishments in Sicily. Originally built as a
private palace in the late 19th century, the hotel was purchased by the Florio family, who restored it and transformed it into a chic retreat with Art Nouveau design. .
The hotel soon became one of the
epicenters of Belle Époque society and aristocracy in Europe. The Grand Hotel Villa Igiea hosted royalty, dignitaries, and Hollywood luminaries such as Nicholas II of Russia, Edward VII and George V of Great Britain, Chulalongkorn of Siam and the Duke of Orléans among its first patrons.
To bring history back to life,
elegant and classic furniture . The hotel's history is reflected in every room, transporting guests on a journey back in time to two centuries ago. A great deal of effort was made to ensure that most of the furniture was made in Italy to
support local businesses and artisans . For example, all of the majolica tiles from the site that were not salvaged were custom designed by Scianna Ceramiche, the oldest producer of the artisanal from Bagheria, east of Palermo.
Guests can enjoy different accommodations such as
a library ,
swimming pool ,
restaurant and
spa . The designers kept the libraries and living rooms smaller than the property's original
layout ; as well as the Reading Room, which acts as a
vibrant showcase of Sicily , where Guests can find several books on the history, architecture and design of Villa Igiea and Sicilian cuisine.
The suites at Villa Igiea have
stunning views of the outdoors and the beaches. The walls are decorated with
local artwork and the sea-view terraces are equipped with sun loungers. No detail is spared between the elegant living area, the Super King-size bedroom, the spacious
marble bathroom and the stunning 96 m² private terrace overlooking the Gulf of Palermo.
The relaxation area soothes with blue and white Sicilian tiles and natural wicker furniture, with bursts of color in the center of the room. Shades of green reflect the gardens, and sea blues appear in the main spaces, contrasting with the white walls. A lemon-patterned ceilings and zesty orange hues are a subtle nod to 18th-century rural Palermo, once a utopia of citrus groves. Olga Polizzi, Design Director at Rocco Forte Hotels, says: "It was a wonderful job, as
the design looks like it has always been there , even though the hotel has undergone a major renovation. Many of the interior objects were 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.”
