Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel Principe di Villafranca, Palermo, Sicily
Facts in brief
Official star rating 4
Location In the Liberty district at the heart of Palermo
Annual opening All year
Closest airport Palermo Airport
Distance from airport The hotel is 40-minutes' drive from Palermo Airport
Hotel facilities and services
Restaurant, Bar, Laundry Service, Room Service, Library, Fitness Room, 24/7 Reception, Garage Parking.
Out and about nearby
Palermo is home to some of the world's greatest examples of Arab-Norman architecture, particularly the San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Palazzo Reale and its striking Cappella Palatina mosaics, and La Martorana. Outside Palermo, Monreale is the greatest work of Norman architecture in Sicily, and houses 12th and 13th century mosaics and cloisters. Palermo is an excellent location in which to try the range of Sicilian wines, with streets laden with wine shops and cellars and vineyards covering much of the surrounding landscape. To get a real sense of the city, perhaps take one of the many themed walking tours: from street art, historic cars, fishing history, cemeteries, to gardens. While here, make sure you explore Sferracavallo, Palermo's fishing village, the small temple on top of Monte Gallo, the Mondello city garden, and the port.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard room for 5 nights
From about
£790
Holiday Code IE727
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel Principe di Villafranca, Palermo, Sicily
The four-star boutique Hotel Principe di Villafranca sits at the centre of the most prosperous areas in Palermo, Sicily. The streets, though tinged with history, are home to designer shops and eclectic modern buildings, and are just minutes away from Palermo's picturesque marina. From the outside, the hotel has a very sleek, contemporary appearance; however, when you walk in through the lobby, you will be struck by the characterful arches, the antique Sicilian furniture, and the distinctive colourful artwork on the walls. A homely and traditional fireplace sits as the centrepiece of the main lounge, crested with a coat of arms. In the lounge bar, teas and coffees can be enjoyed in a stylish, cosy atmosphere, and in the library, you can select a book from one of the many shelves and relax into a comfortable and quirky sofa. In the mornings, breakfast is served in the bright, airy breakfast room, which is more overtly modern than the other ground floor rooms. Guestrooms take on a neutral palette of silver, or brown, and white, brightened by rich hues of blue or purple. Textured figurative paintings are hung above the beds. Bathrooms are spacious and sleek, with marble-style floor-to-ceiling tiles and dark counter tops. The effortless blend of the modern with the traditional works particularly well in the Hotel Principe di Villafranca, emphasising its suitability for a stay of a few nights to week as you explore Sicily's largest city, perhaps as part of a longer touring holiday around Sicily and Italy.
Room descriptions
Hotel Principe di Villafranca has 32 rooms, all of which are situated on the first floor and feature air-conditioning, telephone, wifi, television, minibar, safe, shower and hairdryer. Deluxe rooms and Junior suites also have a Nespresso machine.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard room for 5 nights
From about
£790
Holiday Code IE727
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel Principe di Villafranca, Palermo, Sicily
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to Hotel Principe di Villafranca in Palermo, our clients usually fly to Palermo airport. From the airport, we recommend a private car transfer which we would include in our holiday price. If you are staying here as part of a touring holiday of Sicily, we recommend that you collect your hire-car at the end of your stay in Palermo, either from a city centre location or the airport.
Additional information
Children: Children are welcome at the Hotel Principe di Villafranca, and cots can be provided in all double rooms for an extra fee.
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Standard room for 5 nights
From about
£790
Holiday Code IE727
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays and tours to Hotel Principe di Villafranca, Palermo, Sicily
About Sicily
An Expressions tailor-made holiday in Sicily allows visitors to discover a unique and captivating island. The rich tapestry of Mediterranean history can be witnessed on the southerly island of Sicily, fascinating not only for its amazing blend of cultures including Greek, Arab, Byzantine and Norman and its architectural treasures which reflect these influences but also for its breath-taking scenery of coast, parched mountains and fertile groves of almonds, oranges, lemons and olives. The people are proud and independent, reserved but sincere and helpful. Traditions thrive to an extent that the atmosphere of Sicily is unrecognisable in the context of other parts of Italy further north. The towns and villages are contrasting with picture postcard scenes of mediaeval labyrinthine alleyways adorned by wrought-iron balconies and baskets of flowers or severe dilapidation punctuated by grand Baroque or austere Norman cathedrals and churches. Additionally, there are of course some of the most important sites of the ancient Greek world such as the temples at Agrigento, the theatre at Taormina and numerous relics at Siracusa, reputedly one of the most beautiful cities of the Greek world. High above the island looms Mount Etna, one of the largest volcanoes in the world and an awe-inspiring sight. Off the north coast of Sicily, the beautiful Aeolian Islands offer escape and remoteness, natural scenery and a startling light, a sleepy way of life and romantic isolation. A holiday in Sicily appeals for those who want typical rest and relaxation with cultural activities at hand, and for those who want to be more adventurous and experience more of this captivating island.
Highlights of Sicily
An ascent of Mount Etna, partly by car and then further on foot (guides available) through the luxuriant vegetation which includes oranges and lemons, bougainvillaea and poinsettias and then higher up the groves of walnuts, cherries, almonds, pistachios and vines. Palermo is known for its street markets, especially Vucciria and Ballaro, where traders and hawkers, pickpockets and shoppers converge amongst narrow streets and stalls of wares. See the traditional costumes and dialect of Piana degli Albanesi, where Albanians settled in the 15th Century. Revel in the splendid site of Taormina above the sea with views to Etna. Local crafts include cork, ceramics, honey, embroidery, raffia. Enjoy the calm and remoteness of the Aeolian Islands with their clear waters, beautiful scenery and peaceful way of life. Enjoy the gardens of the Villa Giulia in Palermo and the Public Gardens in Taormina.
Cultural highlights of Sicily
Palermo contains some of the greatest Arab-Norman buildings in existence - San Giovanni degli Eremiti, the Palazzo Reale with its striking Cappella Palatina and La Martorana. Monreale outside Palermo is the greatest work of Norman architecture in Sicily and contains beautiful 12th and 13th Century mosaics and cloisters. The Doric temples of the 5th Century BC in the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento. Cefalu has the `Portrait of a Man` by Antonello da Messina, dating from 1465 in its Museo Mandralisca.
Festivals in Sicily
Many Sicilian local festivals are linked to Saints’ Days. A few of the most well-known festivals generally include Carnival celebrations in Taormina and Acireale. Easter is celebrated especially in Trapani, Marsala and Piana degli Albanesi. Messina celebrates Ferragosto on the 15th August with a firework display over the Straits. The Sagra del Mandorlo in Fiore takes place in Agrigento in the first and second weeks of February to celebrate the almond blossom. Taormina Arte is a summer festival of music, cinema, ballet and theatre, held in the Greek theatre. The Palio dei Normanni takes place in Piazza Armeria in August.
Gastronomy in Sicily
The gastronomy of Sicily, like much of the culture of the island, has been heavily influenced by its history. Cuscus is a Sicilian version of couscous, and marzipan features heavily in sweets. Local produce includes citrus fruits, almonds, capers, olives, peppers and fish. Local specialities include Maccheroni con le sarde (pasta with sardines, fennel, raisins, pine nuts and saffron), Pesce spada (grilled sword fish), 'alla Siciliana' with capers, red peppers and herbs. Cassata is a popular dessert made with ricotta, candied fruit and pistachios and Cannoli are almond biscuits stuffed with ricotta. Sicily produces a variety of red and white wines including Corvo di Salaparuta and Etna, Marsala and Malvasia.
