In the Footsteps of the Florios: itinerary and stops in Palermo and Sicily

The story of the Florio family in Palermo begins on Via dei Materassai. Brothers Paolo and Ignazio Florio arrived in the Sicilian capital from Bagnara Calabra in the early 1800s and opened a grocery store that soon became very successful.

Over time, they also founded Cantine Florio for the production of Marsala wine, built tuna fisheries in Favignana for tuna fishing and canning, and established the Oretea Foundries, which constructed the first ships of the new shipping company.

The Florio grocery store was located at number 51 on a street called Materassai, which today is steeped in a decaying atmosphere but was once a bustling commercial street.

Above the shop, Paolo Florio lived in a house that still overlooks the San Giacomo square, facing the Church of Santa Maria La Nova.

In 1807, Paolo Florio passed away. His son Vincenzo, then a child, lived with his mother and uncle Ignazio. During those years, the spice and drug shop became famous. Ignazio died in 1828. Vincenzo inherited the house at Via dei Materassai 53, owned by his uncle.

A splendid example of Art Nouveau architecture, Villino Florio was built between 1899 and 1902 by architect Ernesto Basile at the request of the powerful Florio family.

The Villino Florio at Olivuzza is located on Viale Regina Margherita, near the Palazzo della Zisa, and is one of the first architectural works in Art Nouveau style in Italy, as well as a masterpiece of art nouveau at the European level.

Given Vincenzo Florio's cosmopolitan attitude, as he was a great traveler, Basile decided to enrich the villa with baroque details, Nordic arches, cylindrical turrets evoking French castles, Romanesque columns, and Renaissance rustications.

Once, this villa, surrounded by greenery, was the main residence of the Florios, where they hosted the most lavish parties of Palermo at the time.

After the family's prosperous period ended, the villa fell into disuse until a fire in 1962 damaged part of the interior. Finally, after a long period of restoration, Villino Florio is now accessible to visitors.

On the waterfront in the Acquasanta district of Palermo stands the enchanting Villa Igiea, offering a magnificent view of the Gulf of Palermo.

Built at the end of the 19th century as a private villa by English Admiral Cecil Domville in neo-Gothic style, Villa Igiea was later purchased by the Florio family.

Specifically, Franca, the wife of Ignazio, fell in love with this villa and decided to turn it into a spa resort.

The villa was named Igiea after the Greek nymph Hygìeia, goddess of hygiene and protector of health. The renovation was once again entrusted to Ernesto Basile.

From the outside, the villa presents itself as a castle with crenellated towers, set in a large park meant to serve as a place for recovering patients as well as for the long walks of the guests. The interior, on the other hand, astounds with its rich decorations.

The Mirror Hall in Art Nouveau style is a celebration of figures and colors, the so-called "floralia". The vast room on the first floor enchants with woodwork designed by Basile and painted floral decorations, inspired by the art nouveau theme of spring and youthful femininity, created by Ettore De Maria Bergler in 1900. The furnishings of the building were crafted by Vittorio Ducrot in floral style.

Villa Igiea hosted memorable parties attended by the crème de la crème of late 19th-century Palermo, including personalities like Gabriele D'Annunzio and Giacomo Puccini.

With the decline of the Florio family, it later served as a sanatorium and was then acquired by the Bank of Sicily, returning in recent years to its former glory.

Villa Igiea is now a luxury hotel frequented by celebrities, including influencer Chiara Ferragni.

The itinerary of places linked to the Florios continues to Favignana, in the Egadi Islands, where the family opened a tuna fishery, now transformed into a museum and exhibition space.

On the island, there is also a villa where the family would retreat during the summer to spend their vacations or escape from Palermo.

The Florio palace is the gem of the island, built in a mix of neo-Gothic style on the external structure and Art Nouveau in the interior furnishings, evoking the atmosphere of the late 1800s.

It was commissioned by Ignazio Florio shortly after he acquired the Egadi Islands in 1874 and was designed by the Palermitan architect and engineer Giuseppe Damiani Almeyda.

To build it, a pre-existing tower, which was part of Fort San Leonardo, had to be demolished. The palace became the social hub of Favignana, where Ignazio Florio Jr. and Donna Franca invited their friends to celebrate during the tuna fishing season.

Upon arriving on the island, you can find it near the port, unmistakable for being the only significant building that stands out clearly from the rest of the landscape.

Today, Palazzo Florio is home to the Town Council, the municipal library, and the tourist information point, and it sometimes hosts exhibitions and cultural events.

It is partially visitable, but allow your imagination to take you back to the early 1900s when the lively salons of the palace hosted conversations, dealings, secrets, and loves of the Florio family.

The itinerary then takes us to Marsala, where it is worth visiting the historic Florio cellars famous for the production of Marsala wine.

They were founded in 1833 by Vincenzo Florio, who was the first producer to label Marsala with the name of an Italian producer. Today, tours allow you to visit the historic cellar. Don't miss the beautiful salt pans in Marsala, from where the sunset is breathtaking.