With its Arab-Norman cathedrals and raucous street markets, Palermo has an infectious, sun-soaked energy. And right in the middle of it all, on the beautiful Via Roma, stands the Grand Hotel et Des Palmes, a palazzo with a past to rival the city. Built in 1874 as the private residence of the Ingham-Whitaker family — English Marsala merchants who all but ran Sicily — it was transformed into a hotel in 1907 by Art Nouveau architect Ernesto Basile. Wagner stayed to finish Parsifal, Poet Raymond Roussel checked in and never left, and the mirrors, marble and sweeping staircases have seen it all.
The 98 rooms and suites are classically styled with parquet flooring, dark wood furnishings and rich fabrics. They are elegant rather than flashy and comfort is taken seriously: Egyptian cotton, memory foam mattresses and rainfall showers in the bathroom. Superior rooms have additional gold-accented detailing and city views, and the suites step up again with private terraces overlooking the rooftops. The Richard Wagner Suite is something else entirely: stucco reliefs, gold leaf, a crystal chandelier and, most memorably, the composer's own grand piano in the centre.
The Richard Wagner Suite, the centrepiece of which is the composer's actual grand piano.
The street-facing rooms on Via Roma can be noisy. Instead, ask for a room overlooking the internal courtyard for a quieter night and a lovely view of Basile's Art Nouveau details.
From mirrored bars and marble columns to sweeping staircases, the grand public spaces are spectacular, but some standard rooms feel more corporate than the spectacular exteriors suggest.
Grand Hotel et Des Palmes can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Italy trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Italy trips featuring Grand Hotel et Des Palmes or get advice and suggestions from one of our Italy specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Grand Hotel et Des Palmes start from around $290, or US$290, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
A place set apart, where history runs deep and the edges are a little wilder.
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