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Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen have joined forces with Olga Polizzi, director of design at Rocco Forte Hotels, on the palazzo's interior design. The elegant 31-room residence features meticulously restored 18th-century architecture. roccofortehotels.com. Villa Igiea, near Palermo This is Manolo Blahnik's favorite hotel. The designer is obsessed with di Lampedusa's aforementioned novel The Leopard and its film adaptation by Visconti; stars Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, and Alain Delon stayed here during the filming. Designed in 1904 by architect Ernesto Basile, Villa Igiea — now part of the Rocco Forte Hotels portfolio — is a gracious and refined Art Nouveau masterpiece. Belle Époque halls, period furnishings, and frescoes sparkle after meticulous renovations by Olga Polizzi and designer Paolo Moschino. roccofortehotels.com. Jacques Garcia Villa Elena, near Noto Paris-based designer Jacques Garcia is an ardent fan of Sicily. He has spent 10 years restoring and reviving a former 16th- century Jesuit monastery and turned it into a glamorous villa that's truly maximalist. It's surrounded by stately olive trees, a large swimming pool, and a jungle of palm trees. The villas on his estate, which can be rented, are close to the coast and to the baroque towns of the Noto Valley. jacquesgarcianoto.it. Renting Villas in Sicily For an ultra-private experience, consider renting a villa in the countryside or near the coast. London- b a s e d s o u rc e T h e Thinking Traveller has an outstanding roster of luxurious rentals in all parts of Sicily, including these Garis r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s : P a l a z z o M u s m e c i , Villa Armerina, and Sole di Vaddeddi. thethinkingtraveller. com/italy/sicily. Clockwise from top: 1. Oratorio di Santa Cito plaster works. 2. and 3. Jacques Garcia's Villa Elena. 4. Villa Igiea. 5. Villa Patagonia. 60