It opened its doors in 1908 after a record time construction, 10 months, enough to build a monumental seven-story colossus in liberty style that has gone down in history as the most emblematic hotel in Naples and the first building that welcomes travelers arriving by the Mediterranean. We are talking about the Eurostars Hotel Excelsior, located in the Santa Lucia neighborhood, on the waterfront, right in front of Borgo Marinari (the charming fishing village full of colorful boats and fresh seafood restaurants) and the Castel dell'Ovo (Egg Castle), the oldest fortress in the capital of Campania. And with the challenging silhouette of Vesuvius always looming in the distance.
The accommodation, currently owned by the Spanish chain Eurostars, with a portfolio of 300 hotels in more than 130 countries worldwide, also boasts being the favorite of celebrities. There is not a single one who has visited the Italian city and has not stayed here. Or at least gone up to the panoramic terrace to contemplate the volcano face to face. From Humberto I of Savoy and Alfonso XIII (and their successors, the emeritus Juan Carlos I and Felipe VI) to Alexander Fleming, Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Alfred Hitchcock, Clark Gable, Orson Welles, Clark Gable, Humphrey Bogart, Sofia Loren, Rudyard Kipling, or Andy Warhol.
Sofia Loren, in an iconic image with the hotel in the background.
The list is endless, and most of them appear in the black and white photographs that decorate some of the walls of the lobby and the elevators themselves. From the opening, banquets, royal parties, filmmakers chatting amicably... And the beautiful Sofia Loren in a bikini and with a headscarf, sitting in a boat, with the hotel facade in the background.
More recently, other celebrities have been able to discover the benefits of this iconic accommodation. Starting with Bill Clinton, who came in 1994 to participate in the G7 Summit and even had an exclusive pizza made for him at one of the most famous trattorias in the center, Di Matteo, an image that went around the world. Not in vain, the chef who came up with it, Ernesto Cacialli (now deceased), began to be known, from that moment on, as "the president's chef." And even opened a restaurant with that name, Dal Presidente.
Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and Lady Gaga also count among the guests of the Presidential Suite, with unique views of the Gulf of Naples from their private terrace. Tom Cruise did the same during the filming of Mission Impossible 3, located in the area and, especially, at the Royal Palace of Caserta, 40 kilometers from the city, where the first part of Star Wars was also filmed.
The hotel has not only hosted all kinds of intellectuals, politicians, and artists but is also part of cinema history, as films like Viaggio in Italia (Journey to Italy, 1954), by Roberto Rossellini, with his wife, Ingrid Bergman, and George Sanders as protagonists, or The Last Judgment (1961), by Vittorio De Sica, have been filmed here.
In 1984, director Ettore Scola filmed the comedy Macaroni, with Jack Lemmon and Marcello Mastroianni in its facilities. That same year, one of the impressive banquet halls hosted scenes from Once Upon A Time in America, with Sergio Leone at the helm and Robert De Niro as the star character. Not to mention iconic series like The Sopranos, as the very Tony Soprano (played by James Gandolfini) stays here when traveling to Italy with Paulie and Christopher.
In short, the hotel of the stars. We are not surprised by the choice, as when the doorman opens the door, a journey back in time begins, to the refined Belle Époque, with its characteristic elements such as the Murano crystal lamps (valued at over 50,000 euros each) that illuminate the main rooms, the cozy piano bar, the elegant draperies, and the Carrara marble present in the columns, bathrooms, floors, and the photogenic entrance staircase that welcomes guests in the lobby.
Right next to the charming reception. One of those from yesteryear, with its noble wood counter, just like the furniture in the 122 luxury rooms, 20 of them suites, all in a classic style, with their infinite ceilings, walls covered in natural silk, desks, and 100% cotton sheets.
Surviving two world wars
Pure distinction that has survived two world wars. "During the first one, it was the headquarters of the Red Cross and during the second, a hospital and the American army's headquarters. And that, despite the fact that the building was constantly bombed, it has managed to stay standing," says its director, Gianni Ricci, who literally was born in this beautiful nineteenth-century mansion. "My mother went into labor right here, as both my parents and my grandfather were employees all their lives. It's a family tradition that I maintain...," he proudly adds. Furthermore, his father was the most famous concierge in Naples, as well as an intimate friend of Marcello Mastroianni, a true fan of the place.
The Eurostars Hotel Excelsior not only thrives on history, cinema, and decoration. The culinary aspect deserves a separate mention. The ultimate representation is found at La Terrazza, the restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine and local nods located on the seventh and top floor, offering unique views of the aforementioned gulf and the islands of Ischia and Capri.
You must try their oysters, buffalo mozzarella, spaghetti with clams, or Neapolitan ragù. The bar L'Ottavo Cielo (located above seven lower heavens) is ideal for watching the sunset with a signature cocktail in hand, as it is said to host one of the most beautiful sunsets in the city.
It's hard, we know, but it's time to come down from up there and explore the city with some of the bespoke experiences the hotel organises for its guests. From a guided tour of the old town to a cruise around the bay, a wine tasting in the villages near Vesuvius, a visit to Pompeii or a cookery workshop at 10 Pizzeria Diego Vitagliano, considered the world's best pizza chef in several editions of the prestigious international 50 Top Pizza ranking.
The credit goes to his innovative use of baking techniques applied to the world of pizza. A welcome break to recharge your batteries before continuing your tour of the city. Mind you, you must be back at the hotel before nightfall to watch the sunset from L'Ottavo Cielo.
Eurostars Hotel Excelsior. Via Partenope, 48 (Santa Lucia, Naples). Tel: +39 081 764 0111. From ¤160. Website: www.eurostarshotels.com