Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel

Rocco Forte Hotels is delighted to announce the reopening of its resorts in Sicily for the 2023 summer season on Wednesday, March 16, 2023. In conjunction with the long-anticipated reopening date comes the exciting news of the arrival of Isidoro di Franco as General Manager for the Sicily region.

With a strong background of working in 5-star luxury hotels across Italy and Austria, di Franco returns to his hometown of Palermo in a role that includes supervising management and ensuring the overall success of Villa Igiea, Verdura Resort, and the Rocco Forte Private Villas on the Agrigento coast.

There is no shortage of novelties to usher him into his inaugural year in Sicily as the start of the 2023 season across all three properties is brimming with activity.

In Palermo at Villa Igiea the White Lotus Experience debuts, a unique itinerary allowing guests to discover some of the most iconic filming locations from the second season of this cult series. The tour starts in Cefalù, where guests can choose whether to go hiking, visit artisanal shops, indulge in the local gastronomy or relax on the beach by the town's picturesque bay. The tour continues towards Villa Tasca, the enchanting sixteenth-century villa of the Tasca d'Almerita family where Daphne and Harper spend the night amidst a lush, 8-hectare park and surrounded by one of the most highly regarded 9th century gardens of Sicilian Romanticism. At the end of the day, the return to Villa Igiea is topped off with an exclusive evening at the Igiea Terrazza Bar, site of the second episode's dinner scene starring Jake and Portia as protagonists. The night begins with the White Lotus cocktail - created during filming at the hotel last year - which whets the palate for a menu that is a faithful reproduction of what appeared on screen.

Just like the grandfather, father and son trio in the show, those looking to trace the origins of their lineage and find lost relatives in the region can rely on Villa Igiea's Ancestry Concierge, a dedicated figure who is skilled in helping guests trace their family roots. When the stars align, a visit to the Ancestry Concierge can even turn into a once-in-a-lifetime visit to meet descendants or explore ancestral hometowns.

The new itineraries and activities in Palermo and Sciacca allow for a 360° experience of Sicily, unveiling the island's most hidden secrets and private corners. In this same light, a partnership with exclusive residences and properties across the island allows guests of Rocco Forte Hotels to visit jewels such as Villa Bordonaro in the heart of Palermo or the Abbey of Santa Maria del Bosco in the municipality of Contessa Entellina. Thanks to Rocco Forte Hotels' exclusive relationships, guests can even relish in an intimate aperitivo or dinner with some of the most prominent Sicilian noble families at their residences, while listening to firsthand stories about the centuries-old history of the island.

On the western coast near Sciacca, Verdura Resort presents itself in a new guise following a major restyling of the hotel's rooms and suites. The renovation was overseen by Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte Hotels' Director of Design, and is inspired by the lushness of the surrounding landscape, local artisanal tradition, the products of the territory and the rich cultural heritage of western Sicily. Each aspect materializes in the choice of color palettes and the selection of materials used for the interior design, where cedar yellow, burnt orange and rusty red are combined with stone, wood and local ceramics.

The Rocco Forte Private Villas - elegant, independent residences immersed in the 230-hectare estate of Verdura that ensure guests total privacy while making use of the 5-star luxury services of the resort - are kicking off the season with a series of exclusive new services designed especially for families or groups of friends: theme parties in the children's villa can be tailored to an "Under the Sea", "Circus" or "Jungle Animal" experience; movie nights under the stars by the pool are an al fresco way to enjoy your favorite film accompanied by popcorn and champagne; private dinners in the villa boast menus ranging from authentic Sicilian recipes to the iconic dishes of Verdura or even a Barbeque Night; and last but not least, the unprecedented experience of horseback riding - suitable for any age - which allow you to explore the grounds of the estate and the private beach from an utterly unique perspective.

This season Verdura Resort is also offering packages and activities designed specifically for families, fitness fans and the most demanding travelers across the resort's rooms, suites and Private Villas from cooking classes to fitness classes to wellness packages at the 4,000 sqm Irene Forte Spa.

Starting in March, the sports champions academies will recommence: the Golf Academy for adults and children led by a team of certified PGA professionals will resume once more, while the Tennis Academy will welcome Swedish pro Mikael Tillstrom for the first appointment of the season on April 7th. The star-studded sports roster continues through October with appearances by important international names, including Olivier Rochus, Omar Camporese, Francisco Clavet and Bernd Karbacher.

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