Palazzo Castelluccio marks the Rocco Forte group’s third hotel in Sicily but its first step into Sicily’s sun-splashed southeast, and it couldn’t be in a dreamier or more evocative place. Tucked into the honey-hued streets of Noto, a town of flamboyant Baroque facades, ancient ruins, and a wonderful UNESCO-listed historic center, this 18th-century residence is being reimagined as a design-forward boutique hotel with just 31 beautiful rooms.
The hotel is set within the UNESCO-listed old town in what is notably one of Noto’s most impressive buildings: the elegant Palazzo Castelluccio. Originally built in the 18th century by a Sicilian noble family, the palazzo is a masterpiece of late Baroque architecture, all ornate balconies, grand staircases, and frescoed walls. Until recently, it functioned as a privately owned house-museum, offering a glimpse into how the aristocracy of Noto once lived (lavishly, in case you’re wondering), standing as both a preserved time capsule and one of the city’s lesser-known cultural gems.
A New Chapter for Sicily’s Palazzo Castelluccio
The reimagining of Palazzo Castelluccio has been undertaken by Olga Polizzi, Rocco Forte’s design director, in collaboration with Paolo Moschino and Philip Vergeylen, with a project that aims to be as much a practice in historical preservation as the creation of a new hotel. The palazzo’s grandeur will remain: its gorgeous vaulted ceilings, hand-painted frescoes, and tiled floors, but Rocco Forte will layer in contemporary touches and tactile craftsmanship. Indeed, Rocco Forte promises a blend of “inherited charm and contemporary luxury.”
The house is set into gardens lush with palm trees and colorful bougainvillea, and there’ll be a restaurant, bar, event spaces, and a spa and gym. However, full details are not yet confirmed.
As with Edinburgh’s The Balmoral, Berlin’s Hotel De Rome, and an upcoming renovation project in Milan, this new outpost continues Rocco Forte’s pattern of reviving landmark properties with a healthy dash of locality and international polish.
Palazzo Castelluccio is set to open in 2026, but until then, browse our favorite vineyard hotels in Italy, or take a look at our curated list of top boutique luxury hotels in Palermo, including Rocco Forte’s beachside Villa Igiea.
