Residents of Palermo are divided over the wedding celebrations of British pop star Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner, which are taking place in the Sicilian capital this weekend. While some locals are proud to host the high-profile event, others have expressed frustration over road closures, security cordons and the disruption to daily life.
The couple, who exchanged vows in London last weekend, arrived in Palermo by private jet on Thursday night. They are staying at Villa Igiea, a five-star art nouveau hotel where an entire floor of suites has been booked for an expected 200 guests. The celebrations include a private tour of the Galleria d’Arte Moderna and a reception at the Palazzo Gangi, with rumours that Elton John may perform.
Concetta Chillemi, a shop owner near the gallery, admitted she didn't know who Dua Lipa was until last summer, when the couple holidayed in Palermo after their engagement. She said: 'Sometimes it feels as though the city is becoming a theme park,' echoing concerns about mass tourism. Clarissa, a bar worker who declined to give her surname, said: 'It's not right to block the city – I could understand if it was for the pope, but not for a singer.'
However, not everyone is unhappy. Concetta Picciuca, a hotel worker and Dua Lipa fan, said: 'I think the event is a good thing because it's good for the economy … Perhaps, like me, they should come to work by bike instead of by car.' The celebrations will continue on Saturday at Villa Valguarnera in Bagheria, a town once a stronghold of the Cosa Nostra. Picciuca joked that the main risk for Dua Lipa there is being doused with dirty water thrown from balconies.
