In the rolling hills near Noto, Sicily, a new boutique hotel is capturing hearts and headlines. Braccialieri, a bold and colorful retreat just two kilometers from the Baroque capital of southeastern Sicily, reinvents traditional Sicilian charm through the lens of fashion designer Alessandro Enriquez.
Once an 1800s olive estate, the property has been reborn into a vibrant hideaway surrounded by over 2,000 century-old olive trees. The hotel blends rustic architecture with an explosion of color, texture, and design. Its most Instagrammable feature? A red-and-white checkered swimming pool emblazoned with the words: Don’t forget to love.
The interior, imagined by Enriquez, swaps tired clichés for playful reinterpretations of Sicilian culture. Gone are the Moorish heads and old carts—in their place are vintage floral wallpaper, artisan-made furniture, iron planters, and even a retro three-seat bicycle. Every corner reflects the personal memories and vision of its creator, who grew up in Palermo and made his name in fashion before entering the world of interiors.
Braccialieri offers six eco-glamping villas and three romantic suites, each uniquely named—Amare, Tangerine, Geranium—and decorated with custom furnishings and local finds. The hotel’s common areas, too, invite relaxation and connection, from the social poolside table to the panoramic terrace at Café Braccialieri.
Food is a highlight. The hotel’s restaurant, Dodici Zappe, located in a restored 19th-century palmento, is helmed by Chef Francesco Giura, a disciple of Gualtiero Marchesi. His menu is rooted in local ingredients, including produce from the hotel’s own organic garden. Expect dishes like slow-cooked eggs, fresh almond pesto, and a deeply comforting Sicilian parmigiana.
Whether it’s the hand-painted tiles whispering amore, the vintage details lovingly collected, or the golden light of the Val di Noto, Braccialieri feels less like a hotel—and more like a family’s open-hearted dream come true.
Where: Contrada Seggio, Avola (Siracusa)
Website: braccialieri.com