In the heart of the Mediterranean, where the sea sparkles and thermal springs bubble from the earth, the island of Ischia shines as a jewel of beauty and hospitality. For nearly sixty years, Leohotels Ischia, born from the vision of the Leonessa family, has epitomised the art of welcoming guests, weaving together tradition, luxury, and an unbreakable bond with the island’s heritage. Founded in 1966 by Salvatore Leonessa, a young civil engineer inspired by trailblazers like Angelo Rizzoli and Gaetano Marzotto, who saw the potential of thermal tourism, the group is now led by the second generation – siblings Alessandro, Emanuele, and Elena, children of Giovanni – and is poised to celebrate its sixtieth anniversary in 2026 with a legacy of triumphs and a collection of four distinguished hotels, ranging from four to five stars.
The story begins with the Continental Terme, opened in 1966 as Ischia’s first hotel to champion the fusion of holiday and wellness. Nestled within a three-hectare park, with low-rise Mediterranean-style buildings and five thermal pools, it redefined the island’s hospitality. In the late 1970s, the Leonessa family acquired a clifftop villa once owned by an American magnate, transforming it into the Continental Mare, a haven of elegance with rooms, suites, terraces, and pools overlooking the Gulf of Naples. In the 1980s, the group welcomed Il Moresco into its fold, the island’s first five-star luxury hotel, famed for hosting a young Mina, then known as Baby Gate, in the 1960s. Completing the collection is the Excelsior Belvedere, acquired in the late 1990s: a boutique five-star hotel in the heart of Ischia, facing the sea, born from the restoration of Lord James Nimmo’s 19th-century villa and now the crown jewel of Leohotels.
Rooted deeply in Ischia’s history and traditions yet with an international outlook – 75% of its guests hail from abroad – Leohotels offers an authentic taste of Ischian hospitality, catering to diverse needs, from leisure and wellness to conferences and luxury. With a capacity exceeding 440 rooms, 250 staff, and a turnover surpassing 13 million euros in 2024, the group stands as a pillar of stability, continually investing in its properties and services to uphold ever-higher standards. Each year, Leohotels refines its offerings to meet the expectations of a varied clientele, blending Mediterranean warmth with global sophistication. As it approaches its sixtieth milestone, Leohotels Ischia remains a beacon of excellence, celebrating the island and its heritage through a hospitality that is both timeless and ever-evolving.
