Grand Hotel et des Palmes in Palermo will mark its 150th anniversary in 2027 with a year-long programme of cultural events, beginning in December 2026, alongside a new phase of investment in the historic property.
The hotel is part of Icona’s Collection, the new luxury brand from Mangia’s Hotels & Resorts.
First opened in 1877, Grand Hotel et des Palmes has welcomed generations of artists, writers and musicians, including the composer Richard Wagner, and remains one of Palermo’s best-known landmarks.
Alongside the anniversary celebrations, the hotel will begin significant refurbishments inspired by Sicilian Liberty style and the legacy of the architect Ernesto Basile. The project will restore and enhance many of the property’s defining features, including the Winter Garden, Hall of Mirrors and Lobby Bar, while introducing bespoke furnishings, restored antiques and contemporary design touches throughout the hotel.
The historic Wagner Suite, where the composer stayed while working on Parsifal, will also be refreshed, alongside upgrades to the restaurant, terrace and residential-style apartments.
The celebrations will begin on 19 and 20 December 2026 with Le Stanze Fatate (The Enchanted Rooms), an immersive theatrical performance created exclusively for the hotel by the Sicilian director and playwright Emma Dante. Staged throughout the hotel’s historic interiors, the production will turn its rooms and salons into a living fairy tale, with four performances across the weekend at 5pm and 8pm.
The performances will launch a year-long programme of cultural events celebrating Palermo’s art, culture and heritage, reinforcing the hotel’s long-standing role as one of the city’s cultural meeting places. Further details of upcoming events will be announced in due course.
The anniversary comes during a period of growth for Mangia’s Hotels & Resorts, which has opened the five-star all-inclusive Mangia’s Costa Ragusa Borgo and the five-star Icona’s Costa Ragusa Resort, as the group continues to invest in properties that combine local character with contemporary luxury.
Nightly rates at Grand Hotel et des Palmes start from €600 for two people sharing a double room, including breakfast.
Publisher of Hospitality and Leisure News, 365 Retail, Retail Source and organiser of the Creative Retail Awards.
