Inside the Donna Franca Suite at Villa Igiea

Vivacious, glamorous, powerful. Few figures encapsulate the effortless grandeur of the Belle Époque quite like Donna Franca, our Sicilian muse. Famed for her petite frame, thick dark hair and an exquisite fashion sense that has endured for over a century, Franca was the epitome of an era that placed beauty and high fashion at its forefront.

Born in Palermo in 1873, just two years after the Belle Époque began its ascent from Paris, she grew up immersed in the era she would one day embody. It was a time of peace, prosperity and great innovation across science and the arts – the latter of which Franca embraced wholeheartedly.

Even her marriage was a nod to the changing times. While Franca was of Sicilian aristocracy – she would later become known as the Queen of Palermo – her husband, entrepreneur Ignazio Florio Jr, reflected an era of rapid social evolution and the rising influence of the middle classes.

From relatively humble beginnings, the Florio family became Sicily’s industrial powerhouse, shaping Palermo’s culture and economy and transforming the city into a meeting place for the European elite. They became patrons of the arts, influencing the Belle Époque movement and making a lasting impression on the island’s architecture, including commissioning Villino Florio, Italy’s first Art Nouveau building in 1899.

JBut it is Franca that history celebrates as the influence behind the family’s international status. Leonardo Sciascia wrote, “We speak of the Florios, but in memory and imagination, it is she (Donna Franca) who embodies both their fortune and their downfall.”

Franca remained at the centre of high society for decades, hosting parties that attracted prominent figures and royalty to Palermo. Indeed, German Emperor Wilhelm II was so struck by her beauty, he named her the Star of Italy.

Towards the end of the Belle Époque, her influence led to the opening of Villa Igiea. Named after Franca’s daughter and the Goddess of Health, the Florio family entrusted the design to local architect Ernesto Basile, pioneer of the Sicilian Liberty movement. His work on Villa Igiea left a lasting impression on its influential visitors, including European royalty during the hotel’s grand opening season in 1907.

Today, the hotel pays homage to Donna Franca with its most prestigious, eponymous suite. Panelled cream and blue walls echo the suite's luminous views across the Gulf of Palermo, while freshly cut roses and peonies provide a floral aroma carried through the terrace’s open doors. In the warm daylight, find solitude as the waves brush the shore beneath and see if you can spot Franca’s favourite sea-bathing spot.

An ode to her enduring elegance, the suite’s palette recalls the quick, light brushstrokes of Belle Époque artists such as Jean Béraud and Giovanni Boldini, who painted Franca’s portrait, labelling her “a unique creature whose every movement possesses a divine rhythm”. There’s an echo of that elegance in the layout too — a space that encourages a softer rhythm of living, from the serene sitting room to the quietly refined bedroom.

A distinct coral-like chandelier acknowledges Franca’s appreciation for the nautical, perhaps reflective of her adventures aboard her yacht Aegusa, while the soft drapery and selective curves mirror the s-bend silhouette the movement was credited with.

Elsewhere, settle in for a sunset aperitivo at Villa Igiea Terrazza Bar – perhaps an aptly selected Donna Franca cocktail – followed by dinner at Florio restaurant, our Belle Époque-inspired jewel.

The Donna Franca Suite is a thoughtful expression of our Suites & Beyond programme, where each suite tells a unique story. Shaped by the grandeur of a defining period, it is softened by an intimacy that reflects Franca’s childhood, a delectable blend of beauty and local essence.