Liberty Library

Art Nouveau Made New in Central Palermo

A noble Palermo space renovated and meticulously restored by its artist/designer owner Giuseppe Amato, this apartment has been celebrated for its interior design details. Walls are subtle shades of natural lime, wood doorways date from the Art Nouveau era, and marble and original tiles line the floors.

Three double bedrooms stand as interior design temples, one restored to its look from the 1900s, with an oak bed by Ernest Basile, the designer of the neighboring Massimo Theater. A second bedroom features upcycled bathroom cabinet originals reinvented as bedside tables, with a bespoke lamp by the owner and an oversized iron and wood bed at its center, plus a pair of balconies. The third bedroom, the apartment’s largest, is distinguished by a chess-playing balcony, a bespoke iron and wood canopy bed by Guiseppe, plus a classical music collection of more than 300 albums, with a record player.

The living room is a temple to modern design, with Wassily armchairs by Marcel Breuer, a Saarinen table, handcrafted leather sofa and early 1900s-vintage patterned floors. Surrounded by books, the room is cozy and distinguished, anchored by an owner-created wood and iron dining table and Parentesi lamps by Achille Castiglioni.

Original wood beams cross the kitchen, over exposed tuff bricks with modern appliances and a view over the lush courtyard. Bathrooms are artworks, created according to themes—Dirigen Ginico and Love—with contrasting color palettes and sleek fixtures. There’s a reading room that doubles as a dining area, and guests can select an in-home private chef menu of Sicilian specialties unique to Palermo’s elite.

Around

Located in an Art Nouveau era building in Palermo’s Politeama-Libertà neighborhood, the building offers a great base for exploring downtown Palermo and the city’s busy port. Both the Politeama and Massimo Theaters are easily walkable as is Palermo’s old town, the latter reachable in a 10-15 minute walk. Fine-dining and family-run eateries both crowd the streets of the neighborhood, a lively, mostly residential area of indie shops and elegant Italian boutiques and theaters. Rich in Art Nouveau architecture, the neighborhood’s English Garden has palm trees, statues and elegant fountains. The Palermo Port is Sicily’s biggest Mediterranean harbor, home to huge passenger ferries as well as private pleasure boats and smaller cruise ships. Street vendors sell simple meats and fish dishes, and the area is at once industrial and scenic, walking distance from the historic center with a rugged mountain backdrop.

Location

Palermo, Sicily, Italy. Nearest airport: Palermo (35-40km)

Best time to visit

Year round