Residents of Palermo are divided over the wedding celebrations of British pop star Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner, with some proud to host the event and others lamenting road closures and the city’s transformation into a ‘theme park’.
The couple, who exchanged vows in London last weekend, arrived in Palermo by private jet on Thursday night and 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. On Friday afternoon, they are expected to be given a private tour of the Galleria d’Arte Moderna di Palermo before joining guests at the Palazzo Gangi. Details are closely guarded, but a council worker hinted at a buffet and possibly a performance by Elton John.
Concetta Chillemi, who owns a shop near the gallery, said she didn’t know who Dua Lipa was until last summer but has since familiarised herself with her music. ‘Sometimes it feels as though the city is becoming a theme park,’ she said, echoing concerns about mass tourism. Clarissa, a bar worker, said: ‘It has brought a lot of problems – for three days we’ve been forced to park miles away and walk to work. I could understand if it was for the pope, but not for a singer.’
However, Concetta Picciuca, a hotel worker and Dua Lipa fan, welcomed the event. ‘I think it’s a good thing because it’s good for the economy,’ she said. The celebrations will move to Bagheria on Saturday, at the 18th-century Villa Valguarnera. Bagheria’s mayor, Filippo Tripoli, is pleased with the global visibility, but some locals are less enthusiastic. Maria Aiello, a clothes shop owner, expressed concerns about disruption.
Guests reportedly include Mark Ronson, Charli xcx, Kylie Minogue, Donatella Versace, Harry Styles and possibly Robbie Williams. The Italian media has hailed the celebrations as the wedding of the year.
