Pop heartthrob Dua Lipa is getting married and a lavish celebration has been organized for the occasion. However, the event has sparked discontent among the residents of Palermo, Italy, as the city has effectively ground to a halt because of it. To address this dissatisfaction, she has paid £5,000 in compensation. The Daily Mail reported this news. The 30-year-old pop star is set to marry actor Callum Turner on Saturday. The three-day Italian wedding festivities with 36-year-old Callum kicked off with a cocktail party at the Palazzo Valguarnera Gangi. Two key squares in Palermo—Piazza Croce dei Vespri and Piazza Sant’Anna—have been closed to the public to accommodate the wedding arrangements.
Local residents have expressed their displeasure over this. The Daily Mail reported that protest graffiti appeared in various parts of the city over the weekend. A new report claims that Dua Lipa paid £5,000 in compensation to residents of buildings affected by the extra parking arrangements made for wedding guests. On Friday night, offensive graffiti was also spotted on a marble pillar at the square hosting the cocktail party. A source told The Sun that this hardly fits the fairytale romance atmosphere Dua is trying to create. Near the Piazza Croce dei Vespri area, the words “Palermo is not for rent” were scrawled on a wall, though the message was later removed. On Friday evening, crowds gathered at Piazza Sant’Anna hoping to catch a glimpse of the cocktail party guests were left disappointed when police ordered them to move away.
An angry local resident remarked, “It all seems a bit excessive. We just wanted to see Dua Lipa and wish her well.” However, the police asked us to leave. The square was adorned with a classic Mercedes, an Alfa Romeo Giulietta, and a Fiat 128; the last of these featured a display of zucchini, tomatoes, cherries, and fava beans. There was also an open-air cocktail bar decorated with antique mirrors, prints of traditional Sicilian scenes, and bookshelves. Some local business owners were frustrated, as they were forced to close their shops early on a Friday evening—one of the most popular times for socializing in Palermo. In recent years, the city has also become immensely popular among British tourists.
The Galleria Moderna, located opposite the square, was closed to the public at 2 PM on Friday, as part of the wedding festivities was scheduled to take place there. Renting the venue cost approximately £10,000. Metal security barriers were installed to allow VIP guests to arrive by car discreetly, away from public view. The celebrations kicked off on Thursday night with an open-air cocktail party at the Villa Igiea hotel.
Dua, Callum, and most of the guests were staying there. That night, burly security guards—clad in black T-shirts and sporting striking tattoos—patrolled the area, keeping a close watch on pedestrians and the media. In an interview with the local newspaper La Repubblica, Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla expressed his delight at Dua and Callum’s decision to choose the city for their wedding. He noted that they had fallen in love with the city while vacationing there last year. He added that the fact a world-class artist like Dua Lipa chose Palermo for her wedding demonstrates the city’s growing international appeal.
Addressing the complaints from locals, he said, “I understand the temporary inconvenience caused by such large-scale events, and I regret it; however, these are short-lived occurrences.” He further stated that the primary objective of all the measures taken was to ensure the safety of both the individuals involved and the general public. In his words, we must not forget that events of this nature generate international publicity for Palermo. This boosts the city’s appeal and yields overall economic benefits. Police and security forces prepared to establish a tight security perimeter around Piazza Santa Anna and Piazza Croce dei Vespri from Thursday through Saturday.
However, reports indicate that local officials referred to the event as a “demonstration production” in a vague notice, without explicitly mentioning the wedding. Local residents are divided on the matter; some have jokingly asked if Dua Lipa would perform a free concert on the beach in exchange. Dua and Callum arrived in Sicily on Thursday. They were staying at the Hotel Villa Igiea, where rates are £6,000 per night; no expense was spared, as they booked an entire floor of the hotel, which overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Additionally, €10,000 was paid to the local council of Bagheria for another reception scheduled for Saturday. The event is set to take place at Villa Valguarnera, where rumors are circulating that Elton John will give a special performance. More than 50 bodyguards have been brought in from Rome and London to ensure security. Roads surrounding Villa Valguarnera have also been closed, causing frustration among local business owners.
