Grand Hotel Villa Igea
GRAND HOTEL VILLA IGIEA is a magnificent example of Art Nouveau design, restored by renowned architect Ernesto Basile at the end of the nineteenth century as a private home for the Florio family. Still boasting its original frescoes, decorations, and furnishings, it is now a five-star hotel that marries the glamour of the Belle Epoque with warm hospitality and twenty-first-century amenities. The hotel derives its name from the Greek goddess of health, and it is indeed a restorative spot, offering visitors the benefits of sun, sea, and fresh air from its position at the foot of Monte Pellegrino overlooking the Bay of Palermo. The 120 rooms, which include several suites, vary in size and location, but they are all beautifully furnished and outfitted with a host of modern comforts. The hotel is also the perfect spot from which to explore the region, as it offers a range of water sport and leisure activities, including a full-day cruise along the Palermo coastline, a romantic sunset and champagne cruise, scuba and snorkeling excursions, private boat rentals, and a guided tour of Palermo approaching the city as the ancient invaders did, from the sea.
You can also take a guided tour of Palermo’s markets and hidden artistic and architectural treasures. Onsite leisure activities include a variety of face and body treatments, including massage, at the hotel’s beauty corner, access to the private tennis court, and golf at the nearby Villa Airoldi Golf Club. And make sure to reserve time to relax at the sparkling swimming pool, located on a terrace overlooking the sea. As befitting a property of this distinction, the food is nothing less than top-notch. Mediterranean specialties are available for lunch and dinner in the Donna Franca Florio restaurant, with its beautiful Art Nouveau interiors and impeccable service. Tasting menus focusing on Sicilian specialties accompanied by fine wines distinguish the menu at the elegant Cuvée du Jour, while drinks on the terrace in summer and cocktails by the fireplace in winter are available at the Des Arcades Terrace Bar. In the summer, a variety of grilled and barbecued specialties are available poolside.