Rocco Forte Hotels, the family-run hotel group, has revealed the newly restored Villa Igiea in Palermo, Italy. Originally designed as a private villa, the influential Florio family purchased the property to turn it into a luxury hotel beloved by royalty, dignitaries and Hollywood elite in the early 1900s. In 2019, Villa Igiea was acquired by Rocco Forte Hotels, a beginning of a new era for this opulent coastal resort. Working in collaboration with interior designers Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen of Nicholas Haslam Studios, Rocco Forte Hotels’ Director of Design Olga Polizzi has carefully restored this Grade 1-listed landmark, preserving its unique heritage while reimagining and updating neglected areas returning to its former splendor as a jewel of the Mediterranean this summer.
“We have drawn our inspiration from Sicily, but it is much broader than that, it is also the period in which Villa Igiea was built, the Edwardian and La Belle Époque period,” Moschino said. “This extraordinary time in history is reflected in the design through the usage of rattan furniture, Sicilian marbles, Sicilian hand-painted tiles and classic antiques. The hotel is distinct in its sense of place.”
Villa Igiea’s allure has been reinstated, combining the architectural grandeur of the past with contemporary comfort of a private family home (as its original purpose in the late 19th century).
“In every project we do, we always play with the contrast between old and new, so this concept wasn’t any different when designing Villa Igiea,” Vergeylen said. “Villa Igiea tells the story of modern comforts enveloped by historic luxury. As the property was originally a private family villa in the early 1900s, every room from the Library lounge to the Sala Basile reflects this sense of warmth masterfully juxtaposed with grandeur architecture. The number of rooms and suites were downsized to create spacious accommodations, the bathrooms brought to the 21st century and the pool, flanked by luscious gardens, was restored to its previous splendor. A perfect setting for a grand weekend in a grand house.”
Downsized to 100 rooms and suites, Villa Igiea boasts spacious accommodations with locally crafted elements paying homage to the surrounding destination including locally-sourced Carrara marble in the ensuite bathrooms.
“Every single bedroom is different, no two rooms are the same. For example, each room has a desk, however, no two desks are the same size as every room has specific needs. We imbued each space with an individual flair, which we hope surprises and delights guests as they return time and time again,” Vergeylen noted.
Igiea Terraza Bar has been masterfully restored and expanded doubling in size creating a long distinct bar. Inside, the elegant sandstone vaults and charming frescoed paintings remain on the walls, which were commissioned in the 1950s by Palermo’s renowned local artist and Sicilian icon Eugenio (Gino) Morici. Outside, the bar opens to an umbrellaed patio revealing views of the Mediterranean.
The new and charming library lounge is right off the reception area designed with comfort and slow afternoons in mind. Original Basile desks and chairs, locally-sourced books and elegant windows create a bright and airy atmosphere perfect to write a letter or read a newspaper.
“Perhaps that the hotel was largely influenced by the Sala Basile. This is the hotel’s reception hall that was decorated in Sicilian Art Nouveau Style by the revered painter Ettore de Maria Bergler. The color schemes of the entire property were based on these grand murals,” Moschino said.
In keeping with the original design and the ethos of the space reflecting a pool at a private family home, the pool was among the restoration projects on property. One of Palermo’s most renowned al fresco venues, the Alicetta Pool Bar is enclosed in a pretty metal pavilion modeled on the same design as the pavilion of the Palazzo Butera in Palermo.
At the heart of Villa Igiea sits the magnificent belle epoque ballroom, designed especially for grand ceremonies and gala events. Be sure to look up and admire the charmingly painted ceiling and spectacular chandeliers, art nouveau wall lamps, striking oriental frescoes and the gleaming wall of filigree mirrors reflecting the rich greenery and fragrant flowers in the garden beyond.
“We didn’t want anyone to come back and say Villa Igiea has lost its charm,” Moschino said. “Instead, we want the response to be that it was brought back to life. It was of utmost importance that the original glamour of the frescoed paintings, the grand mirrored ballroom and the soaring ceilings continued to play a central role in the design.”
