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Italy and weddings are a match made in heaven.
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The country has seen dozens of high-profile ceremonies, including George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin in Venice, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in Florence, and Emily Blunt with John Krasinski on Lake Como.
Now, Dua Lipa and partner Callum Turner are reportedly planning a three-day bash in Palermo, the capital of the island of Sicily.
The city has a less starry profile than other Italian holiday favourites like the Amalfi Coast, Lake Como or Capri, but romance it delivers in droves.
The pending nuptials of the British singer may see the Sicilian destination come much more under the international spotlight.
Here are some of the city’s swoonworthy highlights.
Dreamy hotels for destination weddings
In 2025, Dua Lipa and Turner stayed at Villa Igiea, a storied Art Nouveau hotel overlooking the Mediterranean that is predicted to be the couple’s wedding venue.
The property – a grand, coral-hued building appearing like a neo-medieval palace rising from the coastline – is no stranger to high-profile guests, having hosted royalty and Hollywood stars in the past.
Inside are frescoed Belle Époque halls, while the grounds feature terraced gardens and an infinity pool.
Villa Igiea is considered the creme de la creme of Palermo’s luxury accommodation options.
Other potential venues include the Grand Hotel et des Palmes, a 19th-century aristocratic residence transformed into a hotel in 1907.
The redesign was entrusted to the same architect of Villa Igiea, Ernesto Basile, who filled the halls with sumptuous stuccoes and reliefs.
Another Art Nouveau gem is Grand Hotel Wagner, named for the composer Richard Wagner who spent several months residing there.
The splendid interiors feature marble columns, precious carpets and hand-painted stained glass.
Fall in love with food
During their 2025 sojourn, the soon-to-be-wed couple also indulged in some of Palermo’s iconic food offerings – which are a foolproof way to fall in love with the city as well as the person you’re with.
Sicily’s history of cultural fusion – controlled by the Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, and the Spanish Bourbons over the years – is reflected in its complex, flavour-packed cuisine.
When on the go, grab an arancina from a street vendor. While the snack of risotto encased in a crispy fried shell is cone-shaped in the Sicilian city of Catania to pay homage to Mount Etna, it is formed into a round ball in Palermo.
Those of a strong stomach can sample pane con la milza (spleen sandwich), readily available in street markets like Ballarò and Vucciri.
If you have a sweet tooth, indulge in a cannolo from the bakery I Segreti del Chiostro, hidden inside the monastery of Santa Caterina d’Alessandria where the cloistered nuns would once have prepared traditional sweets.
The pastries consist of tube-shaped hard shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy ricotta filling and decorated with candied fruit or pistachios.
Marvel at marble and mosaics
Palermo’s composite culture is also on dramatic display in its many majestic monuments.
The city’s Arab-Norman architecture is UNESCO-listed and includes the sprawling Cathedral with royal tombs and a breathtaking rooftop view as well as the Palazzo dei Normanni – Europe’s oldest royal residence – housing the glittering mosaics of the Cappella Palatina.
Wandering around the historic centre, you pass many times through the Quattro Canti, a piazza-like intersection with four ornate stone-carved facades featuring statues of Spanish kings and allegories of the seasons.
Before indulging in a cannolo, make sure to look around the Santa Caterina d’Alessandria church, whose polychromatic marble-clad interior is a riot of cherubs, biblical scenes, floral flourishes and intricate architectonic details.
For a romantic evening, book to see a performance at Teatro Massimo, Italy’s largest opera house known for its fine acoustics.
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