Residents of Palermo are divided over the wedding celebrations of British pop star Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner, with some welcoming the global attention and others complaining about road closures and disruption. The couple, who exchanged vows in London last weekend, are hosting a two-day event in the Sicilian capital, including a private tour of the Galleria d’Arte Moderna and a reception at Palazzo Gangi.
Concetta Chillemi, a shop owner near the gallery, said she had not known who Dua Lipa was until the couple holidayed in Palermo last summer. After listening to some of her songs with other shopkeepers, she remains sceptical. “Sometimes it feels as though the city is becoming a theme park,” she said, echoing concerns about mass tourism.
Clarissa, a bar worker who declined to give her surname, said she admires Dua Lipa’s music and activism but criticised the disruption. “For three days we’ve been forced to park miles away and walk to work. It’s not right to block the city – I could understand if it was for the pope, but not for a singer.”
However, hotel worker Concetta Picciuca, a fan of the singer, said the event is good for the economy. “There are people who complain, but I think it’s a good thing … Perhaps, like me, they should come to work by bike instead of by car.” She noted that in Bagheria, where the celebrations move on Saturday, residents have a habit of throwing dirty water from balconies, warning that Dua Lipa might get soaked.
The wedding festivities are expected to include around 200 guests, with celebrities such as Elton John, Kylie Minogue, Donatella Versace, Harry Styles, and Robbie Williams reportedly attending. The couple arrived by private jet on Thursday and are staying at Villa Igiea, a five-star art nouveau hotel.
