The Best of Palermo and Monreale
Get to know Sicily’s Phoenician capital in an all-encompassing guided tour in and around Palermo. Start the day like a local with a morning shopping trip to Capo market, taking in the vibrant sights, sounds and streetfood of the fabled mercato. Appetites sated, the tour will next take you through the city’s boulevards, piazzas and ancient Old Quarter, past its palaces, churches and fountains, stopping off to take in the Quattro Canti – the four corners of the city – and the Duomo. End the adventure in a drive to the Arab-Norman architectural treasure of Monreale, a 12th-century town just outside of Palermo – the perfect end to a perfect Palermo day.
Behind the Curtain at Teatro Massimo
With its grand dome, Grecian style columns and imposing staircase flanked by bronze lions, Teatro Massimo has been Palermo’s star attraction ever since opening in 1897. Book a guided visit with us and go behind the scenes of Europe’s third largest opera. Admire the golden stuccoes of Teatro Massimo’s 1,200-seat auditorium and visit the Royal Box. Notice red silk brocade on mahogany furniture in the private Royal Sitting Room. Marvel at the Pompeian Room, dubbed the ‘echo room’ for its remarkable acoustics, and enjoy expansive views across the city from the frescoed Coat of Arms Hall.
On a 45 minutes guided tour, available daily between 9.30am and 5.30pm, discover the monumental beauty of Palermo’s most important theatre.
The Golden Age Art Exhibition
Villa Igiea is a proud partner of Palermo Liberty: The Golden Age, an exciting exhibition hosted by Sant’Elia Foundation in the historic Palazzo Sant’Elia (Palermo City Centre). Liberty Style flourished between 1890 and 1914, reacting to the industrial monotony of its time by turning everyday objects, no matter their function, into works of art. The Golden Age exhibition illuminates this important heritage with 500 pieces that tell the story of an era marked by the inspiring philosophy that art should integrate with life. We are delighted to contribute three treasured pieces from Villa Igiea’s hotel collection, including a wooden room divider by architect Ernesto Basile, dated 1900, a wooden chair by Golia Ducrot and a painting by the celebrated Ettore De Maria Bergler.