Sicily’s history is long and complex, marked by its strategic location in the Mediterranean which made it a coveted prize for many empires. It was first colonized by Phoenicians and Greeks, then conquered by Rome, and later ruled by Vandals, Ostrogoths, the Byzantine Empire, and Arab caliphates. The Normans conquered the island in the 11th century, followed by Angevin, Aragonese, and Spanish rulers, and it was eventually incorporated into the unified Kingdom of Italy in 1860 following a revolt led by Giuseppe Garibaldi. My attempts at staying at Rocco Forte Vila Igiea property has met with almost as much complexity!
If you’ve read The Leopard, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, you may remember the most famous quote “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” Over 2,500 years at the strategic crossroads of the western world have left Sicily with an unparalleled historical legacy.
Nowhere else have Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French, Germans, Spanish, Italians and even the British left such an indelible impression. Whether you are more attracted by Greek temples, Roman villas and aqueducts, Norman cathedrals or Baroque churches, Sicily offers a range of historical sites that are not easily matched.
On my last visit to Sicily, it was the Summer of HEAT – the hottest on record, heat & fires..the airport catching fire was the last straw, I decided to escape the simmering Island after my sea sojourn on the lovely SeaDream yacht and pivot to Rabat – a minimum 20 degrees cooler! My dreamy cruise in the Tyrrhenian seas, included stopping on the tiny Aeolian islands, buying fresh oregano in a tiny vegetable grocery in Lipari, enjoying the nightly volcanic fireworks of Stromboli.
Many years ago, at a cooking class with David Tanis in Sicily at Anna Tasca Lanza cooking school, my goal was to stay at the Rocco Forte Sicilian gem, Villa Igiea, in Palermo, however it was closed for refurbishing. I am hoping Third Time is the Charm.
Rocco Forte Igiea, Palermo. A fabled 19th Century Palazzo in Palermo. Discover history, majesty and serenity at Villa Igiea: a turn-of-the-century palazzo at the perimeter of vivid Palermo, the foot of Mount Pellegrino and the Gulf of Palermo.
A long-loved seaside-meets-city sanctuary for royalty, dignitaries and Hollywood luminaries, trace their paths through tiered villa gardens that sweep down to the port and out to the Tyrrhenian Sea; on excursions to Palermo’s bustling markets, Baroque palaces and ancient sites, or yacht trips along its picturesque coast; and through Villa Igiea’s Italian restaurants, atmospheric bars and palatial Art Nouveau interior, revitalized as a Rocco Forte hotel. This grand, Liberty-style palazzo has enchanted high-profile guests since its commission by the Florio dynasty in the late 1800s. Trace their paths through tiered villa gardens that sweep down to the port and out to the Tyrrhenian Sea and explore Palermo’s bustling markets, Baroque palaces and ancient sites.
A great place to start any adventure on this magical island is the regional capital, Palermo. Here, a honey-colored maze of grand buildings recalls a golden age of lavish operas, decadent parties and grand 19th-century palazzos. The particularly magnificent example of Villa Igiea, built for the influential Florio dynasty. Their powerful sense of glamour endures in this beloved idyll, which has welcomed royalty and Hollywood luminaries including Sophia Loren and Queen Victoria.
An easy day trip from Palermo is Mondello, which is separated from the capital by the soaring Monte Pellegrino hill. A fishing village turned summer hotspot, Mondello is home to a stretch of white sandy beach and plenty of buzzing bars and restaurants to fuel a day’s sightseeing and sunbathing. Over on the south coast, sites of historical intrigue abound. There’s the impressive Villa Romana del Casale, an elaborate Roman villa near the town of Piazza Armerina. There’s also the striking Valley of the Temples, considered among the most important vestiges of ancient classical culture in Sicily, as well as the dazzling Scala dei Turchi cliff
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Mediterranean’, Sicily has lured travelers since antiquity. Next summer, after the usual summer travelers depart, I will make an attempt to stay again!
NOTO HOTEL 2026
Postcards From Palermo
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