There is an hour in Noto when stone turns to honey and the entire city seems to hold its breath. It is the hour when light caresses the façade of the Cathedral of San Nicolò and the world is washed in gold. Right beside it, in the heart of the historic centre, stands Q92 Noto, a refined late-seventeenth-century Sicilian Baroque residence brought back to life by the Quartucci family — a name that, from Taormina to Noto, is now synonymous with elegance, hospitality, and true Sicilian authenticity.
A palace that holds the light
Crossing the threshold of Q92 feels like stepping into a story poised between art and silence. Outside, the golden limestone façade catches the sunset and washes the city in honey and amber; inside, thick walls and eighteenth-century frescoes hold three centuries of history.
Moreover, every space has been restored with near-philological care: original murals and period ornament meet sculptural lighting, fine textiles, and bespoke furnishings in wood and leather. As a result, Baroque classicism and contemporary design converse with ease, never in conflict.
The ten rooms at Q92 Noto are all different, like pages in a Sicilian story.
Some open onto balconies overlooking the Cathedral; others face a secret garden, scented with lemons and jasmine.
Meanwhile, every space is air-conditioned and finished with precision: elegant bathrooms, natural textiles, Sicilian maiolica, and citrus notes in the air.
From the Classic to the Q92 Master Suite, each category translates the hotel’s identity into a distinct nuance of light.
Yet it remains a discreet kind of luxury, shaped by calm proportions and an aesthetic that privileges stillness.
Even four-legged guests are welcomed with the same care: the hotel is pet friendly, because hospitality — here — is a value with no exclusions.
In the bathrooms, the collaboration with Devon&Devon adds a subtle Hollywood note: 1930s-style free-standing tubs, retro wallpaper, and Art Déco consoles that catch warm reflections on Sicilian tiles.
Finally, everything at Q92 is designed to awaken the senses: orange blossom and prickly pear, velvety textures, and light that moves from room to room like a cinematic sequence. GQ Italia has described it as “one of the most beautiful retreats in which to unwind away from the tourist crowds,” and the MICHELIN Guide praises its “aristocratic intimacy and the fragrance of flowers that fills the air”.
Light, slowness, truth
Every moment of the day at Q92 is a sensory experience.
Breakfast, served in the lounge or on the terrace overlooking the Cathedral, is a ritual that celebrates the land: homemade cakes prepared from old recipes, organic citrus preserves, ricotta and honey from the Iblei, bread from the artisan bakery just around the corner, and fruit freshly picked. The Telegraph UK describes it as “a feast for the eyes, a harmony of décor, aromas, and music”.
At sunset, the lounge bar comes alive with pink reflections and soft shadow. Here, a glass of local wine accompanies the city’s transformation into a theatre of gold. And when the day draws to a close, the garden is scented with orange blossom, and time — quite simply — comes to a standstill.
The Quartucci family: the art of making you feel at home
The story of Q92 is inseparable from that of the Quartucci family, pioneers of boutique, character-led hospitality in Sicily.
In 1993, Rosaria and Andrea Quartucci opened their first welcoming home in Taormina, Villa Ducale, followed by Villa Carlotta— intimate worlds where luxury simply meant feeling well.
In 2021, together with their children Gaia and Massimo, they brought Q92 to life, where the “Q” pays tribute to their name and the street number tells the palace’s story.
“We like to welcome guests as friends, make them feel at home, and bring their dreams to life every day,” they say. And that promise becomes real in the simplest gestures: a whispered recommendation, a hidden itinerary, an attention offered before it is ever requested.
Their philosophy—deeply rooted and warmly personal—has turned Q92 Noto into a place where, as Time Out writes, you live as if in a palace from another era, waking to the sound of the bells from the Cathedral next door.
The luxury of belonging to the city
In the heart of Noto, Q92 doesn’t simply observe the city: it inhabits it.
During the Infiorata each spring, its balconies become a privileged box seat above the flower carpet that turns Via Nicolaci into a living canvas. Meanwhile, guests—glass of local wine in hand—watch as the breeze carries petals and citrus through the air.
However, the connection to the territory continues well beyond the event. The concierge and the family suggest hidden routes and local traditions—from private visits to historic gardens to ceramic ateliers, and the quiet rituals of patron-saint celebrations in nearby villages.
Some follow the Baroque trail between Modica and Scicli. Others prefer a picnic on the beach at Cala Mosche, or a sunset by boat along the coast of Marzamemi.
Service is tailored, fluid, and never intrusive. As a result, every detail—from an in-room massage to a last-minute reservation—feels effortless, expressing a quiet luxury made of time returned.
A mosaic of art and craftsmanship
Part of Q92’s allure lies in the dialogue between history and contemporary creativity. During the restoration, the family involved local artisans, designers, and artists—so the project became genuinely collective.
Many furnishings are one-of-a-kind pieces: wrought-iron side tables forged by Sicilian master craftsmen, Caltagirone ceramics, and hand-embroidered textiles. In addition, works by island artists reinterpret the light and faces of Noto.
Even the ambient fragrances were created by an artisanal laboratory in Syracuse. Therefore, each room carries its own olfactory signature—orange blossom, bergamot, or prickly pear—following the guest like a memory of the journey.
The bond with the territory continues at breakfast and at the lounge bar, where products from local producers are served alongside sweets that echo the tradition of the celebrated Caffè Sicilia.
And in the in-house boutique—discreet, curated like a gallery—guests can purchase selected art objects and fragrances. Finally, they become small fragments of Sicily to take away.
A name that shines with restraint
Since opening its doors, Q92 has won over international critics and the most discerning travellers.
It is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection, has received TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice, and reviews from the MICHELIN Guide, Sicilia Secrets and The Boutique Vibe describe it as “a noble retreat with a Sicilian soul”.
GQ Italia calls it “a jewel where Baroque meets minimal chic”, while Sicilia Secrets speaks of “a stay that becomes the most moving part of the journey”.
Yet the most authentic accolades remain the words of guests:
“Stepping into Q92 is like entering the pages of a Sicilian fairy-tale,” someone writes.
“So much love for this place — you won’t want to leave,” confesses another.
And indeed, those who leave Q92 always look back one last time, towards the Cathedral’s golden façade, as if to make sure that stone—alive with light and memory—continues to breathe softly, alongside the heart of anyone who has lived within it.
Discover more about Q92 Noto and the world of hospitality created by the Quartucci family.
Photography by Elisa Garbarino
