Villa Igiea, A Rocco Forte Hotel

Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel, perches on a headland above Palermo’s old fishing harbor, Acquasanta. From here, the Tyrrhenian Sea stretches out, Monte Pellegrino a distant sentinel. The Florio shipping dynasty built this Art Nouveau palace at the turn of the twentieth century. Ernesto Basile, the architect who defined Belle Époque Palermo, designed it.

Step into the Sala Basile ballroom. Its original frescoes and stained-glass ceiling make it one of Italy’s most lavish event spaces. Across 100 rooms and suites, period grandeur meets a refreshing coastal palette. Think marble floors, ornate cornices, and silk wall coverings, all updated by Olga Polizzi’s renovation.

The seawater pool, set on a sun terrace, overlooks the marina. Inside the spa, Sicilian botanicals take center stage. They infuse treatments with the essence of prickly pear and wild fennel.

Florio restaurant offers sophisticated Palermitan cuisine. Much of its produce, like the sweet red onions or the late-season apricots, comes from the island's interior. As the sun dips, the terrace bar becomes Palermo’s prime spot for a sunset Spritz.

Palermo’s energy is just a short drive away. Explore its bustling street markets, the monumental Norman cathedral, or its elaborate Baroque churches. Villa Igiea reveals a side of Palermo few travelers encounter: aristocratic, deeply artistic, and forever tied to the rhythm of the sea.