Grand Hotel Villa Igiea Palermo - MGallery by Sofitel

"The picturesque Grand Hotel Villa Igiea Palermo - MGallery by Sofitel overlooks the crystal blue waters of the Porto dell’ Acquasanta, a spectacular marina in Sicily’s capital city of Palermo. This five-star luxury hotel was first built as a luxurious personal villa by English admiral Cecil Domville in the late-19th century. After being purchased by the Florio family in the early 1900s, the head of the family decided to reconfigure the property into a luxury hotel and named it for his daughter, Igiea. During this process, renovations to the villa were headed by Art Nouveau architect Ernesto Basile, while Italian painter Ettore De Maria Bergler created custom artworks for the hotel. Anyone who ventures off the hotel grounds can find a bevy of exciting activities, events, and trip-worthy destinations in the city of Palermo. For a day of exploring the city’s history, guests can easily walk to the UNESCO World Heritage Site area of the city from the hotel. The newly opened Villa Airoldi Golf Club is a worthwhile stop for a round of golf, just five minutes from the hotel. Guests to Palermo can visit the Teatro Massimo for opera or ballet, tour the Palermo Cathedral, or lounge on the scenic Mondello Beach. Spend a day at the local open-air market, Vucciria, to eat, drink, and shop for local delicacies. Guests to this Mediterranean escape will find that adventures are endless in Palermo.