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 palaces, Palazzo Castelluccio, into a 31-key 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 house 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.
Palazzo Castelluccio is located in the heart of Noto and is one of the largest noble residences in Val di Noto. Originally built in 1782, the palazzo has a neoclassical appearance. The initial design intended to provide a total of 105 rooms 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. Its guestrooms utilize rich fabrics and antiques sourced from auction houses.
The city of Noto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Southeastern Sicily and is renowned for Baroque architecture. The town saw a catastrophic earthquake in 1693, in which most of the buildings were destroyed. The Palazzo Castelluccio was one of the most prominent buildings to be rebuilt 100 years later. In keeping with a new wave of architectural style, the building was reconstructed from local compacted limestone, which transforms into a golden-honeyed glow when hit by sunlight.
Rocco Forte Hotels has four new openings planned over the next three years in Milan, Sardinia, Sicily and Naples.
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