Grand Hôtel du Vésuve in Naples

The Grand Hotel Vesuvio, located in Naples, first welcomed guests in 1882 under the name Hôtel du Vésuve, and today, it stands as one of the city’s most esteemed hotels. The construction was spearheaded by two Belgian entrepreneurs, deeply involved in investments across various sectors, including railways, public works, urban services, and spanning the Euro-Mediterranean region, encompassing cities such as Paris, Spa, Brussels, Naples, Istanbul. The Vesuvio, therefore, not only marked the zenith of the second industrial revolution but also embodied the defining features of mid-19th-century Mediterranean tourism culture, characterized by elements like scientism, antiquarianism, climatism, and romanticism. The outbreak of World War I disrupted numerous international economic relationships, leading the Belgian proprietors to relinquish their ownership of Vesuvio to Italian management. These new owners had been deeply entrenched in the tourism industry since the early 19th century, having taken over from the local nobility in the rental of villas and apartments in Naples, Sorrento and Capri. Additionally, they had also assumed ownership of other grand hotels in the region. In the early 20th century, the Italian government embarked on ambitious industrial development projects for the city of Naples, diverting its focus from tourism. Consequently, the Grand Hotel Vesuvio faced a prolonged period of decline that persisted until the 1980s, when it changed hands and was acquired by entrepreneurs engaged in the service industry, real estate, and film distribution. The revitalization of Vesuve commenced in the 1990s, coinciding with the era of post-industrial economics, globalization, and the ascent of individual tourism. In 1994, the hotel gained prominence once more when it played host to the American and French delegations of the G7, marking a resurgence in its renown and economic success. This study draws upon a wealth of resources, including documents archived within the hotel's historical repository, private records from various past owners, and the latest scholarly literature dedicated to grand hotels.