Palermo, Sicily
Villa Igiea
A Rocco Forte Hotel
What it is
An ultra-pampering boutique hotel secreted away within a 19th century estate on the Gulf of Palermo, with a science-forward spa, al fresco pool and locavore restaurant.
What it isn't
Boring. Curated guest experiences here include everything from helicopter tours over volcano Mount Etna and drives around Sicily—with you behind the wheel, natch—in a Porsche 718 Boxster.
What we think
King Edward VII was here. Sophia Loren, too. Who would have thought it would be even more cinematic and royal-ready today? But that’s exactly what Rocco Forte Hotels has done. All 78 rooms and 22 suites are artfully and timelessly designed; guests in Superior rooms will find carrara marble bathrooms with Sicily-made floor tiles and a room adorned in nautical hues and seaworthy rattans. To truly indulge, opt for the more spacious Suite George V—where, yes, King George V stayed in 1925. We love the leafy private terrace that peeps out on the glimmering seas below, the walk-in dressing room and deep soaking tub (with Sicilian botanical toiletries, no less) and all the pampering fit for a literal king, including in-suite check-in, a welcome bottle of wine, gratis breakfasts, unpacking and pressing services, airport transfers in a Mercedes S, and your choice of ‘experience,’ including a wine tasting or guided private city tour.
You're here because
It’s family-owned, and the Forte clan can do no wrong, if their 12 award-winning hotels have anything to say about it. Bonus: they treat guests like part of the famiglia.
The Moment
You’ve ooh-ed and ah-ed over plenty of spas, but none like this: a tech-forward zen space with LED and oxygen facials and micro-vibration scrubs that could take decades off Judy Jetson.
Restaurants & Bars
All-day dining offering fresh fruits of the sea and produce from surrounding farms, classic pasta and delicious fritti prepared by Chef Fulvio Pierangelini
Location
Fronting the Mediterranean on the peaceful outskirts of Palermo, within an 11 minute drive of the circa 1130 Norman Palace—a.k.a. The oldest royal residence in Europe.