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From Salvatore to Andrea: a journey of dreams, passion and dedication!

The History of Hotel San Salvador in Bellaria Igea Marina

Salvatore

It all began with their hands in the soil and the Romagna sun on their backs. Salvatore and Elia Poggi grew up in Igea Marina, working the fields in winter and in the hotels along the coast in summer. Then, in the 1960s, Igea Marina began to grow as a tourist destination, and the two brothers saw an opportunity. They bought a plot of land, built a hotel and took a leap of faith. It was 1968. The Hotel San Salvador was born. Over time, Elia moved away, but Salvatore stayed, driven by his determination, his pride, and a dream he wanted to bring to life. Alongside him, his family grew, and with it, the hotel.

Stefano and Federico

They are Salvatore’s sons. They inherited everything: the hard work, the passion, the respect for their guests, and a deep love for the land. They bring fresh ideas, innovation and a constant drive to do better. The San Salvador becomes one of the most appreciated hotels in Igea Marina. But they never leave the family fields behind, and something special takes shape: fruit and vegetables grown by their own hands, delivered to the kitchen every day, fresh, genuine, truly local. San Salvador becomes Eco-Green. Not as a slogan, but as a way of life. Fifty-seven years after that leap of faith in 1968, Stefano and Federico look at each other and understand the time has come. The story of San Salvador deserves to continue, but it needs new energy, a new vision, a new heart. It needs the right person. And that person exists.

Andrea

Born in 1987, in Taranto, but a Romagna native by adoption — because certain places choose you; you don’t choose them. He started out in 2004 wearing a colourful polo shirt and holding a microphone: an entertainment coordinator. By the age of 23, he was already leading a team at a large holiday resort in southern Italy. He then changed his uniform, but not his nature: receptionist, head of reception, manager. Twenty years of real apprenticeship, built on people, smiles and a firm belief that has never left him — a hotel is not made of bricks, but of people. Yet he has always had just one dream: a hotel of his own. In 2025, he met the Poggi family. He listened to their story. He felt the importance and value of what they had built. And without thinking twice, he said yes. He took up the baton with both hands and with his heart.

Nowadays

Today, San Salvador represents all of this. The Poggi family’s roots and Andrea’s energy. The land and the sea. Tradition and a smile. Every morning, Stefano or Federico arrive with a box of fresh fruit and vegetables from the vegetable garden — straight to the kitchen, where Mirella, the hotel’s long-serving chef, continues to work her magic as she always has. By Andrea’s side is Fabio, the manager and his trusted right-hand man. And then there’s Stefania, our housekeeper since 2002: meticulous, punctual, a pillar on which everything rests. A real team, made up of people who work with a smile. United by the same attention to every detail.

Welcome to San Salvador – here, you’re not just a guest… you’re a friend!

Want to meet us? Here are some of the people behind Hotel San Salvador

Andrea has been the heart and soul of Hotel San Salvador since 2025.

Andrea is the kind of person who puts everyone at ease, in thirty seconds, effortlessly, and genuinely.  Outside the hotel, you’ll find him on a football pitch, at the theatre or on stage performing a stand-up act, or sitting in an armchair laughing his head off. You might even find him lying on the floor playing hide-and-seek with Greta, his 3-year-old daughter.  That’s right, because Andrea is a dad.  And he is, with all his warmth and presence.  Perhaps that’s precisely why people feel so at home in a family hotel: he knows exactly what it’s like to arrive on holiday with a little girl in your arms and want to find someone who will look after everyone, not just you.

Fabio, the extra man

You were looking for a hotel manager. You found a comedian from Zelig. Fabio is the manager of Hotel San Salvador, and yes, the same Fabio who’s taken the stage at Zelig in prime time on Canale 5. Not just once. Several times. And every now and then he disappears for a few days… then comes back. “Where were you?” “On TV.” Andrea, a former entertainer with a passion for the stage, and Fabio, a comedian turned hotelier, met, and instantly clicked. Because some people just recognize each other. The result? A manager who’s always there, always attentive, always ready to solve any problem, with real expertise and a kind of charm you can’t fake. From check-in to laughter. Often at the same time.

Stefania, a smile that smells fresh

Sardinia in her heart, Romagna in her soul. Stefania has been our housekeeper since 2002 — and yes, you read that right. Since 2002. More than twenty years of keeping the San Salvador spotless, with a precision and dedication that would make your hands tremble. In a recent survey in the world of dust mites — unofficial, but reliable — she was voted the most feared: where she goes, dust no longer grows. Tireless, always on the go, up and down the stairs. But with a smile on her face and always ready to share a chat and a laugh. If San Salvador sparkles, Stefania is behind it. And she’s probably already mopping the floor as you read this.

Mirella, our Azdora!

Mirella, our Azdora! Guardian of Romagna’s traditions, flavours and hospitality. Not sure what an azdora is? Let us tell you.
A traditional figure of Romagna’s rural culture: the woman who runs the household, a symbol of hard work, warmth and… handmade pasta. Mirella is our azdora. She’s been at the heart of San Salvador’s kitchen for nearly 30 years—and you can taste it in every dish. She welcomes you with her apron, a smile, and all the warmth of authentic Romagna. You’ll find her among dough, sauces and home-style aromas. And now that you know what an azdora is… all that’s left is to meet her in person.

Stefano and Federico Poggi

The sons of Salvatore, heirs to a legacy built with their own hands and hearts. They ran San Salvador with love and dedication for years, turning it into one of the most beloved properties in Igea Marina. Then, in 2025, they did the hardest thing of all: let go. But only because they had found the right person. With Andrea, something special was born straight away — not just a simple handover, but a true meeting of minds between people who share the same values. And it was precisely that connection that made all the difference. San Salvador's story didn't end — it was transformed. Today, Stefano and Federico devote themselves to their homeland and their families. Yet, every morning, they bring a box of fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, straight to the kitchen. Truly local, just as it always has been. You’ll often spot them around the hotel — to say hello, have a beer with a long-standing guest, or simply because San Salvador remains the place closest to their hearts.