Two high-profile pop stars have turned Sicily into a summer travel phenomenon. Dua Lipa and Charli XCX both chose the Italian island for their weddings in 2025, sparking a surge in online searches that has pushed Sicily past traditional celebrity hotspots like Lake Como.
In Italy alone, Google queries for Dua Lipa’s wedding location jumped 94% in the past week, according to data from car rental firm SIXT. Over the last month, Sicily racked up 2.4 million searches, while Lake Como—long a favorite for A-list nuptials—saw 225,000, a 7% decline year-on-year.
Venues in the Spotlight
Dua Lipa and her partner Callum Turner held a three-day celebration across several historic Sicilian properties. The main venue was Villa Igiea in Palermo, an Art Nouveau hotel perched on the Mediterranean coast. Google searches for the coral-hued, neo-medieval building rose 306% in the 90 days after rumors of the event spread. The hotel, with its frescoed Belle Époque halls and infinity pool, has hosted royalty and Hollywood stars before.
The couple also partied at Villa Valguarnera in Bagheria, an 18th-century Baroque estate that served as the filming location for Don Fabrizio’s urban residence in Netflix’s The Leopard. Searches for the villa, which is available for bookings by request only, increased 277% in the last week. The property, presided over by Princess Vittoria Alliata, offers 700 square meters of bedrooms, dining rooms, and a ballroom, plus 1,300 square meters of sunny terrace.
Another stop was Palazzo Gangi, a private residence in Palermo where access is limited to guided tours or special events. Searches for the palazzo rose 199% in the same period.
Charli XCX’s wedding location, Tonnara Di Scopello in northwestern Sicily, saw an even more dramatic spike: 1,576% in Italy over the last 90 days. This former 13th-century tuna fishing station is now a boutique hotel and beach cove known for its turquoise water and ‘faraglioni’ sea stacks. Once reachable only by sea, it now has road access. Visitors pay €25 for entry, which includes sun loungers and a museum on the site’s 800-year fishing history. Booking up to 15 days in advance is recommended due to crowding.
The trend underscores a broader shift in European travel patterns, where lesser-known destinations are gaining traction over established ones. For Sicily, the celebrity endorsements come at a time when the island is already grappling with overtourism concerns, similar to other Mediterranean hotspots. Anti-tourism sentiment has been rising across Spain, Italy, and France, and local authorities may need to balance the influx with sustainable practices.
For now, the data suggests that pop culture can directly influence travel behavior, with Sicily emerging as the summer’s must-visit destination for fans and travelers alike.
