Grand Hotel et des Palmes Classic Fine Hotel - City-Center Lodgings - Historic Residence

Character: This very historical hotel offers a great combination of Old World charm and New World amenities. Advantages: The location right in the very heart of Palermo is a big plus, since you can walk to everything. And the staff will treat you like a beloved member of the family. Location: On Via Roma, only a few blocks from Quattro Canti, the central hub of old Palermo. The famed outdoor market is just up the street, as are the Cathedral and most of the other sites you won't want to miss. Click here to see a map. The history of this hotel is as star-studded as its guest book: countless European rulers, aristocats, artists and glitterati have stayed here time and time again since 1874 when the luxurious home of a local shipping magnate was converted into Palermo's leading hotel. Here Richard Wagner finished composing his Parsifal; here the King of Italy held court with his retinue. The minute you step over the threshold you will realize you're in someone's elegant mansion: glowing crystal chandeliers, monumental staircases, polished marble floors, Art Nouveau stained glass windows, stucco mouldings, inlaid wood ceilings, elaborately fresco'ed walls, rich upholstery all combine with a discreet yet friendly staff waiting to make sure you fall in love with their hometown. Palermo was seriously damaged in World War II (largely by us Allies, alas!) and it has had a tough time getting back on its feet, but as you walk its busy streets you can't help notice the many stunning monuments that attest to the important role it has played in European history. After the Saracens and Normans and Aragonese and Bourbons and French moved on, perhaps the last "rulers" of this land were the sons of minor British aristocracy who discovered Marsala wine (among other treasures) in the mid-19th century, amassed a fortune selling it to their countrymen, and decided to take up permanent residence in Sicily. One of the most successful of these was Joseph Whitaker, who built this spectacular mansion for his beloved wife. Bring your own wife, or girlfriend, or anyone you love, for that matter, to share the experience of this stately reminder of glorious days gone by!

Rooms: 100 rooms on four floors. There are five types of rooms, each for one or two or three people. Guest Rooms are small but fine for 2 adults or 2 adults and 1 child. Guest Rooms Plus are more spacious. We think the Deluxe Rooms are the nicest in the hotel: they have a sitting area with a sleep sofa. Junior Suites have a bigger sitting area, while Senior Suites have a queen bedroom, a twin bedroom, and a big walk-in closet. There are ten connecting double rooms in the hotel. All rooms are elegantly furnished and have wall-to-wall-carpet. Non-smoking rooms are available.         Features: Air conditioning, double-glazed windows, color satellite TV, direct-dial telephone, wireless Internet access, lots of drawers, mini-bar, and safe big enough for a laptop. Bathrooms have bathtubs with wall shower and splash screen, magnifying mirrors and hair dryers.         Facilities: Elevator; elegant gourmet restaurant; cocktail bar open till 1 am; room service; garage parking nearby.

For this property:
A child 0-12 years stays free in its parents' double room.

Please note that it is not possible to guarantee Internet access at any property, because the property does not generate the service, it merely provides access from a server. If the server experiences any kind of problem at all, the property regrets it cannot be responsible for any inconvenience caused by subsequent lack of service.

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