In November last year, Sicily, which had been planned for a long time, finally came to work. It's always easy to get tired on long journeys, but a glass of authentic espresso while transiting in Rome instantly rejuvenated me. Looking at the interesting decorative cartoons of the airport, I began to look forward to it, and even the clouds during the transfer became more cute, allowing people to immerse themselves in that beautiful legend in advance.
When you land in Palermo, you will be greeted by a relaxing holiday atmosphere. Probably because the airport is not large in the first place, and it is close to the end of the travel season, the voices are extremely rare. Without the usual rush and panic, we waited comfortably to collect our luggage and drove to Villa Igiea, the place of dreams.
Acquired in 2019 by Rocco Forte Hotels, Villa Igiea was designed by Group Design Director Olga Polizzi in collaboration with Paolo Moschino Ltd. to preserve its heritage character while incorporating the brand's iconic elements, before finally reappearing in 2021 as a regional hotel powerhouse in Palermo.
As soon as you approach it, the pure Italian style, and the details full of texture, make people deeply understand what it means to be "simple but not simple", as Steve Jobs said, the right product direction often depends on taste.
In 1899, Franca Florio and Ignazio, members of the Florio family, the richest family in Italy at the time, bought it from a British general with the intention of transforming it into a sanctuary for their daughter, who was suffering from tuberculosis. When plans changed, they commissioned the award-winning Palermo architect Ernesto Basile to design a luxury hotel built in the 20th century with terraced gardens, baroque palaces and tower villas to the strictest international standards.
I especially love hotels that are wrapped in history, because there are so many stories to tell. The Florio family had a prominent reputation as the wealthiest family in Italy at that time. There is also a best-selling book, I Leoni di Sicilia, which tells their story. The family started from scratch, from a fisherman, to selling spices and red wine, and gradually expanded its business territory, becoming the richest man in Sicily and even Italy.
Today, Villa Igiea is quietly spread out at the foot of Mount Pellegrino, stretching to the port. There are also many ornaments that show the history and culture of Sicily, such as the marionettes that have been listed as a cultural heritage, and you can walk between them, stopping to admire them, and the wind from the Tyrrhenian Sea blows from time to time, as if you can feel the majesty and tranquility of history.
Villa Igiea has always been favored by royalty and nobility. From the earliest opening season of the 19th century, the King of England received his family to the place for holiday fun, and later European royal families, even the distant King of Siam, and of course, other celebrities from all walks of life also came to visit.
The hotel's 104 bedrooms are one of the 104 bedrooms, each of which is luxurious and elegant, with a variety of classic and modern furnishings.
Although Villa Igiea was not immune to the effects of the war and was requisitioned as a hospital during the World War, once peace was restored, it was also restored as a holiday destination for dignitaries.
It's not hard to see how lively the restaurant once was, and I sat down and ordered some local food and a glass of specialty wine, Nero d'Avola. Nero d'Avola and its name originate from Avola, a small city on Sicily, the most important red grape variety in Sicily. Its sweet flavor is indeed very reminiscent of sitting on the terrace with the aristocratic stars of the past, enjoying the sea view in the distance while enjoying food and wine.
After the dinner, I walked to the ornate mirrored ballroom, which is full of delicate retro murals, the main hall frescoes depict the four times of the day: the east wall is the sunrise, the day and sunset are on both sides of the middle wall, and the night is depicted on the north wall. The colonnade on the west side also depicts three peacocks: the middle with a stretched tail for dawn, the half-closed tail for sunset, and the fully closed for night. There are also murals depicting flower fairies picking fruits and flowers, and I would have been romanticized for a while, no wonder so many celebrities have designated this place for their weddings.
In this way, I casually visited and explored in Villa Igiea, and before I knew it, at night, looking at the night view of the hotel, thinking that so many classic movies were filmed here, and so many stars were lingering here, I couldn't help but run to the bar and follow the drunken gold fans.
Villa Igiea will create a special cocktail based on the stories of the celebrities who have stayed there, named the "Once Upon A Time" collection, so order a drink and hope to travel back in time to that beautiful and legendary era.