Principe di Villafranca

This charming 1998 property is the finest boutique-style hotel in Palermo. Stylish, intimate, and evocative of an elegant, unfussy private home, it occupies two floors of what was originally built as a low-rise apartment house. Its Sicilian theme includes enough antiques and architectural finesse to make you think the place is a lot older than it really is. Grace notes include Oriental rugs, marble floors, vaulted ceilings, and a baronial fireplace. The hotel and some of its neighbors were built within what was once one of Palermo's most beautiful gardens, the Ferriato, owned long ago by the princes of Villafranca.

Guest rooms are midsize to spacious, with tile, granite, and travertine bathrooms; Internet access; and a welcome variety of postmodern comfort and style. The excellent restaurant, Hippopotamus, specializes in a Sicilian and Argentine cuisine. In the bar, notice the valuable Liberty-era writing desk crafted by Basile, one of the luminaries of his era.

Facilities:
Restaurant; bar; gym; room service; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.