From the foundations of a dream to the birth of a group that has made hospitality an art and an act of love for Ischia: the origins of an Ischian dream
It all began with a challenge: to build, innovate, and remain faithful to one’s homeland.
In the 1950s, when Ischia was beginning to shape its destiny as a tourist destination, among the workers and entrepreneurs who arrived on the island were the Leonessa brothers, with their construction company. Their first assignment—the construction of public housing, obtained through a competition—marked the beginning of a deep bond between the family and the island.
That first job was followed by many others, until in 1965, as payment for a land subdivision, the Leonessas were given a large plot of land. It was then that a bold idea was born: to build a hotel to resell, a real estate transaction that seemed only temporary. But that project would change the course of their history forever.
In February 1966, the Hotel Continental was ready.
Despite being one of the first structures not facing the sea—a choice considered risky at the time—a buyer was not immediately found. The brothers decided to open it anyway, convinced that it would be easier to sell a business that was already up and running. At the end of the season, however, looking at the accounts, they realized that getting rid of it would be madness: so, from builders, they became hoteliers.
In the following years, the Continental grew to become a unique complex on the island: 240 Mediterranean-style rooms surrounded by three hectares of green parkland, five thermal pools with different temperatures, and one of the most important conference centers in the area. A 4-star establishment capable of accommodating leisure, spa, and business tourism, it soon became a symbol of a new Ischia: elegant, hospitable, and constantly evolving.
From vision to group: the birth of Leohotels
At the end of the 1970s, a new chapter was added to the story of the Leonessa brothers.
A splendid villa that had belonged to an American magnate, suspended between Ischia and Casamicciola and overlooking the sea, was purchased and transformed into a small gem of hospitality: the Continental Mare. A 4-star hotel.
Its terraces with panoramic swimming pools, unforgettable views of the Gulf, and refined tranquility immediately marked a new idea of elegance, more intimate and cozy, but always faithful to the Mediterranean style that had made the Continental famous.
Its in-house restaurant is noteworthy, offering expertly prepared seafood and meat dishes.
In the 1980s, the Leonessa family decided to revive another icon of the island: Il Moresco, the first luxury hotel to open in Ischia. Completely renovated and enriched with new services, the hotel returned to its original splendor, evoking an era in which, in the 1960s, a very young Mina—then known as Baby Gate—performed in its main hall.
Il Moresco thus became a symbol of timeless elegance, where traditional charm was combined with contemporary comfort.
Its restaurant, “La Pergola”, celebrates Mediterranean flavors with light and refined cuisine, served in the shade of the pergola by the pool or in the indoor restaurant, surrounded by bougainvillea and hanging plants.
Crowning a period of growth lasting over forty years, at the end of the 1990s the group acquired its most prestigious hotel: the Excelsior Belvedere.
Created from the conversion of a 19th-century noble villa overlooking the sea, in the heart of the historic center of Ischia, the Excelsior represents the quintessence of hospitality excellence. A boutique hotel 5 stars that has written some of the most beautiful pages in Ischia’s tourism history, combining refinement, art, and authenticity.
Facing the sea, in the middle of lush Mediterranean scrub, from where the eye sweeps over one of the most beautiful corners of the world, stands the Excelsior Belvedere Hotel & Spa. The charm of the already noble residence, the exclusive beach, a rejuvenating spa, lively and creative cuisine based on the best local ingredients, and the short distance from Corso Vittoria Colonna, the heart of the island’s shopping and elegance, enrich a tradition of exquisite hospitality that is renewed over time.
Today, the Excelsior Belvedere is not only an iconic place of hospitality on Ischia, but also a gastronomic destination of excellence. In its restaurant, chef Antonio Scotti creates elegant and sincere cuisine, where the authentic flavors of the island are intertwined with contemporary research. A table that tells the story of Ischia through taste, light, and the beauty of the sea that opens up before its windows. But we will talk about this in a separate chapter…
From the birth of the first hotel to the creation of a group recognized as a benchmark for hospitality on the island, the history of Leohotels has remained a family story, built on concrete values: hard work, vision, and deep roots in the local area.
The Ing. Salvatore Leonessa Foundation: a legacy of values, looking to the future
Tenacity, intuition, technical expertise, and an enlightened vision of business: these were the qualities that distinguished Salvatore Leonessa, who was able to combine a passion for his work with a deep sense of social responsibility.
An engineer, innovator, and pioneer of tourism in Ischia, he believed that the success of a business should always give something back to the community from which it originated. In 1998, upon his death, his wife Lina Mameli Leonessa decided to honor his memory by founding the Fondazione Ing. Salvatore Leonessa.
The project was born from a shared vision: that of conscious entrepreneurship, capable of combining development and solidarity.
Under the guidance of Lina, the Foundation has promoted numerous social, educational, and health initiatives over the years. From scholarships to medical contributions, from supporting talented young people to building shelters and restoring churches in Ischia, every project has followed a common thread: not forgetting others and supporting those who show commitment, courage, and goodwill.
Since 2015, the presidency has been entrusted to Elena Leonessa, supported by Alessandro Leonessa and Don Agostino Iovene, who continue to consistently uphold the moral and cultural legacy of the founder.
The Foundation has distinguished itself for its constant commitment to the island community: from the donation of medical equipment to the Rizzoli Hospital, to the creation of a multifunctional center for young people, to training programs for students and future tourism professionals.
Among the most significant projects are the “Chance” program, dedicated to advanced training experiences in Michelin-starred kitchens and university master’s programs, and “InsideWork”, which promotes entry into the world of work in highly specialized tourism roles.
In addition to these, there are merit awards for the island’s most brilliant high school graduates and a plan to create a psychological counseling center, designed to offer support to people affected by the difficulties and disasters that have marked Ischia over the years.
In every initiative, the Foundation renews Salvatore Leonessa’s message: a true enterprise is one that generates value for others.
A legacy that continues
From the foundations of the first hotel built in the heart of the island to the creation of a group that symbolizes Ischian hospitality, the story of the Leonessa family tells much more than a story of entrepreneurial success: it is the story of a family that has been able to transform expertise into vision, and vision into commitment.
Every structure in the Leohotels group still preserves the original spirit of that intuition: the idea that welcoming means caring, offering beauty and well-being, but also giving value back to the territory that makes all this possible.
The Fondazione Ing. Salvatore Leonessa represents the natural continuation of that philosophy: a deeper form of hospitality, which translates into attention to young people, health, and the growth of the community.
Thus, between elegance and solidarity, memory and future, the name Leonessa continues to intertwine two inseparable stories—that of hospitality and that of the heart—united by the same confident outlook toward the island and toward life.
Four hotels, four different souls, united by the same Mediterranean spirit.
From the hills overlooking the sea to the terraces facing the Gulf, each Leohotels property reflects a different aspect of Ischia: tranquility, beauty, and authentic hospitality. These places were created by a family that has turned hospitality into an art form and made the island their destiny.
Each hotel in the Leohotels group is a different interpretation of the same dream: to offer hospitality that is not just a stay, but an experience. From the intimate atmosphere of the Continental Mare to the aristocratic charm of the Excelsior, to the tranquility of the Moresco and the vital energy of the Continental, everything speaks of the same idea of hospitality: authentic, refined, and deeply Ischian.
