Rocco Forte Hotels Announce the Signing of the Historic Palazzo Castelluccio in Noto, Sicily

Rocco Forte Palazzo Castelluccio — Photo by Rocco Forte Hotels

The hotel will be an ode to C18th Italy, with breathtaking architecture, priceless antiques and an unrivalled location in the centre of UNESCO World Heritage Town.

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 hotel comprising 50,000 square feet of meticulously restored 18th-Century architecture.

The opulent Sicilian palace will be a stunning jewel in the growing Rocco Forte collection.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.

The Building

Palazzo Castelluccio is located in the heart of Noto and is one of the largest noble residences in Val di Noto. It was originally built by one of the country's most influential noblemen, Marquis di Lorenzo del Castelluccio in 1782. Contrary to the mostly baroque architecture in the rest of the town, the palazzo has a neoclassical appearance. The initial design intended to provide enough rooms (105 in total) to cater for the family, servants and big gatherings, housing a music room, chapel, and ballroom. 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 Destination

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.

With four new openings planned in the next three years, (Milan, Sardinia, Sicily and Naples), expansion is top of the agenda for Rocco Forte Hotels.

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