SICILY, the largest and most populous island in the Mediterranean, is home to two glossy Rocco Forte properties.
The island’s capital, located in the northwest, is Palermo, a spicy fusion of African and Arabic cultures offering a destination rich in history and cultural treasures, including the Palermo Cathedral and the Massimo Theatre, as featured in the film The Godfather. With its impressive gastronomic delights, world-class wines and year-round sun-drenched landscape, the island ensures an indulgent holiday.
Villa Igiea
One of the smartest addresses in the city is Villa Igiea, an historical Art Nouveau palazzo and once the summer home to Sicily’s influential Florio family. After a two-year restoration overseen by Olga Polizzi, sister of Sir Rocco Forte, who collaborated with architects Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen, an uber-luxurious urban retreat has been created.
The entrance is awash with cosy armchairs and colourful floral installations, with a winding marble staircase leading down and out onto the grounds. Perched above the port with panoramic vistas across the Bay of Palermo, we look out over the clutch of mega yachts that are moored in the harbour, while lounging by the swimming pool surrounded by the immaculately manicured tiered gardens.
Igiea Terrazza Bar
Our bright suite is reminiscent of a private apartment, blending historic features with contemporary comforts, and our hi-tech, spacious living area is adorned with local objects d’art and book-lined shelves. Picture windows open out to dazzling views over the lush gardens and across the turquoise Mediterranean.
The separate bedroom with a zillion-count linen thread ensures a blissful slumber, and the Carrera marble bathroom is complete with Sicilian floor tiles and shelves lined with plenty of fragrant Irene Forte skincare amenities.
Suite at Villa Igiea with Sea View
The outside terrace of the Florio Restaurant serves an unrivaled Sicilian breakfast buffet, while at night the garden’s soft lighting and enchanting live music transform it into a fine dining haven, with a sumptuous menu designed by chef Fulvio Pierangelini, featuring fresh fish, hearty pasta, Sicilian arancini and many ingredients harvested from the gardens of the Rocco Forte resorts.
After absorbing the vibrancy of Palermo, we’re whizzed off in a Maserati Ghibli on a 90-minute scenic drive heading south towards the serenity of Rocco Forte’s Verdura Resort. With 203 sea-facing rustic-toned rooms and suites set within 230 hectares of grounds, it boasts 2km of private golden coastline encompassing a water sports centre and two spectacular, world-class 18-hole championship golf courses that meander from the foothills of the surrounding mountains down towards the sea.
Not forgetting to mention probably the largest two-tiered swimming pool we have ever seen (all 60m of it), tennis courts, a fitness centre and a stand-alone spa with four outdoor thalassotherapy pools heated at varying temperatures that look out onto the grounds. For families, there’s a kids and a teens club.
Verdura Resort Infinity Pool
Verdura Resort takes pride in its diverse selection of restaurants. Before dinner, we head up to the Granita Bar to witness the famed Sicilian sunset over the sea, which creates an enviable Instagram moment.
We dine at Amare, the romantic beach-fronted seafood eatery, with its selection of freshly caught fish, perfectly cooked to order. We book the more casual Liola Restaurant for our second night, which offers cliff-top views over the Mediterranean. This Sicilian trattoria-style pizzeria menu includes Sicilian caponata and large plates of hearty homemade pastas.
Rocco Forte Private Villa
Last year, the resort built 20 self-contained spacious villas, perched high with views overlooking the sea and offering total privacy. Each villa has been styled to resemble a rugged, double-storied Sicilian farmhouse and offers immaculately appointed interiors with contemporary furnishings in rich, earthy colour-tones, and specced with every mod-con imaginable.
All comprise a range of luxury amenities, including their own indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a fully equipped kitchen, heated swimming pool and electric bikes to navigate the resort’s grounds – that’s if guests can tear themselves away and head down to the resort to experience all this resplendent retreat has to offer.
by Amanda Bernstein
Villa Igiea offers Suites starting from €1400 per night on a B&B basis. roccofortehotels.com/villa-igiea
Verdura Resort offers rooms starting from €528 per night in a Deluxe Room on B&B basis. For additional information, please visit roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/verdura-resort