Sophia Loren, Paul Newman, Gina Lollobrigida, Kirk Douglas, Grace Kelly… the list of exceptionally glamorous guests who once graced the elegant Igiea Terrazza Bar in Palermo is endless. Imagine, if this bar could talk, what stories might it tell? Well, thanks to the ingenious mind of Salvatore ‘The Maestro’ Calabrese it is telling them. And this cocktail guy was more than ready to pull up a bar stool in the beautiful bar and listen. The space itself is a work of art. Situated in what were once the vaults of Villa Igiea, its sandstone walls are adorned with 1950s frescoes depicting historic and mythical scenes. Lighting is provided by dramatic wrought-iron chandeliers. As for the bar area itself, it appears to be one long, very impressive creation of marble and wood, divided perfectly in two. However, one section is many decades old, while the other is brand new but cleverly crafted to perfectly mirror the original. The reason? The Maestro was keen to accommodate more guests in the intimate setting, while retaining the original’s sophistication. Moreover, though, it is the older of the two bars that has seen and heard it all over its many years of service, and apparently it shares these wondrous stories at night with its younger sibling. So says Salvatore, and it is these ‘conversations’ that have been romantically brought to life by him and his team to inspire the new menu, Once Upon a Time. I started with Kirk 103 (Bulldog Gin and Belvedere Vodka scented with extra-virgin olive oil, and Vermouth del Professore infused with black olives). Now, so this particular story goes, Kirk Douglas lived to be 103 years old, Martini in hand. Whilst I’m not advocating this as a lifestyle diet, this particular Martini, featuring local ingredients such as black olive, oregano and rosemary, and served ‘naked’ (sans dilution, a style pioneered by Salvatore), was bold and beautiful. My date was drawn by Divina (Cîroc Vodka, basil, kiwi and honey cordial, and Champagne), a lowsugar cocktail created in honour of the healthy lifestyle of another famous guest, operatic icon Maria
THE COCKTAIL GUY IMAGINES… Sipping with stars of the silver screen in Sicily Igiea Terrazza Bar Villa Igiea, Salita Belmonte 43, Palermo. @villaigiea palermo
Callas. And after her first sip, my companion declared that she was feeling better already. Paul Newman loved a beer, hence the refreshing and punchy Newman’s Day (Wild Turkey Bourbon, mango, passion fruit and APA Sicilian beer). While the legendary ‘Ice Queen’ – actress (and later Princess of Monaco) Grace Kelly – is honoured in an appropriately ice-cold and seductive drink of the same name (Ketel One Vodka, Acqua Bianca, eucalyptus and anise aromatic ice). As we sipped away the drinks
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confided more of their stories. And as the evening light slowly began to fade, we slipped out on to the equally stunning terrace itself to enjoy the breathtaking views over the Gulf of Palermo, still imagining ourselves in the glamorous company of our famous friends from a bygone age when stars of stage and screen really were stars. And, just for the briefest of moments, thanks to the sumptuous surroundings and those exceptionally exquisite drinks, make-believing that we were stars too.
