Rocco Forte Hotels is expanding into Baroque Valley in Southeastern Sicily with the announcement of its third Sicilian hotel opening in the historic town of Noto. Scheduled for 2026, the hotel will transform one of the town’s largest and most beautiful palaces, Palazzo Castelluccio, into an elegant 31 room residence comprising 50,000 square feet of meticulously restored 18th-Century architecture.
Joining two existing properties in Sicily, Villa Igiea (Palermo) and Verdura Resort (Sciacca), the Palazzo Castelluccio hotel will feature a restaurant, bar, garden lounge, meeting and events space, spa and gym. Having successfully collaborated on recent projects for Rocco Forte Hotels, Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen are once again joining forces with Olga Polizzi, Deputy Chairman and Director of Design at Rocco Forte Hotels, on the Palazzo’s interior design. Olga Polizzi commented ‘Sicily has a special place at the heart of our brand and the beautiful town of Noto is a destination in itself. The Palazzo Castelluccio is a perfect fit for us, with an inspiring history and enchanting aesthetic that tells the story of its location. Each room will blend inherited charm and contemporary luxury to evoke the same timeless grandeur that fills the rest of the Palazzo.’
Palazzo Castelluccio is located in the heart of Noto and is one of the largest noble residences in Val di Noto. The palace first opened to the public in 2018. Today, blue silk-covered walls shimmer beneath the glow of majestic crystal chandeliers, and the original Caltagirone ceramic floors have been carefully restored, reflecting timeless luxury. Outside, the enchantment continues with a lush garden, framed by palm trees and vibrant bougainvillaea. History meets comfort in the guest rooms where beautifully decorated trompe l’oeil walls, rich fabrics, and antiques sourced from the finest auction houses create an atmosphere of refined elegance.
The city of Noto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for Baroque beauty, in an untouched corner of Southeastern Sicily. The town saw a catastrophic earthquake in 1693, in which most of the buildings were tragically destroyed. The Palazzo Castelluccio was one of the most prominent buildings to be re-constructed 100 years later. In keeping with a new wave of architectural style, the building was re- built from local compacted limestone, which transforms into a golden-honeyed glow when hit by sunlight.
Photography copyright ©Mattia Aquila
