The figure tied to Italian political lineage, known as the father of a future prime minister, Francesco Meloni, left a notable imprint during his stay on La Gomera, the Canary Islands’ third smallest island with a population hovering around 22,000. A serious businessman, Franco—as he was known in the island’s capital—sought an elite lifestyle with ambitious investment bets. Trained as an accountant, he settled on La Gomera in a period spanning the late 1970s into the early 1980s, choosing a spot away from the sun-and-sand tourism circuits. He arrived with his sailboat, nicknamed Crazy Horse, and soon began investing in real estate by purchasing three houses in the historic center of San Sebastián de La Gomera. In one of these traditional homes, he opened a restaurant, Marqués de Oristano. Oristan denotes the provincial capital of Sardinia where Francesco was born. By adopting this noble title, he aimed to lend a certain air of distinction to his property, a goal that succeeded after a thorough and careful restoration funded by substantial investments.
His most prized asset on the island was the 17th‑century residence where he lived, just steps from the iconic temple, the Church of La Asunción. This choice reflected another layer of aristocratic distinction Franco wanted to imprint on his La Gomera life. He also acquired a house on Calle del Juzgado, where Fin Fan nightclub would later operate. The three properties together formed a central cluster, underscoring Meloni’s apparent financial reach or, at least, his bold audacity as a decisive investor. In the mid‑1980s and into the early 1990s, with these ventures, El Italiano helped redefine hospitality and nightlife in San Sebastián de La Gomera. The restaurant raised the city’s culinary bar, while Fin Fan became the island’s first fashionable nightclub. Neighbors recalled how builders of the era used to visit the restaurant and money moved in those circles. In the past, some company dinners were held at Marqués de Oristano, and along with the Parador de Turismo restaurant, it was among the most elegant dining options—it was a privilege to visit. Word of these establishments spread among residents.
job builder
Franco Meloni was also recognized for generating employment on La Gomera. Outside work, he appeared prudent, avoiding extreme displays of wealth and conspicuous luxury cars. The Marqués de Oristano and Fin Fan both left a generational mark on the island’s social and economic landscape. Meloni later formed a romantic relationship with a woman from La Gomera who had two children from a prior marriage and belonged to a wealthy family. He and his two children eventually moved to the Balearic Islands.
Despite appearing self-assured, those who knew him described him as a good person. A neighbor who interacted with him noted his kindness, though the neighbor preferred to remain anonymous. He would invite acquaintances to private gatherings at his home, a sign of his generous nature. He was a businessman who identified with socialist ideals and atheism, a candid self‑portrait he sometimes shared with friends.
In the early 1990s, the positive public image of his business did not guarantee sustained profitability. Financial difficulties followed, leading to the sale of all three properties. Debts and a legal dispute filed by a local attorney marked the downturn. Meloni left La Gomera with his partner and two children. During his time on the island, there were no associations with criminal activity. The family’s house stood opposite Puerta del Perdón, a detail cited in accounts of the era, though it was his daughter Giorgia who would later, in her own life, reflect on the enduring bonds and tensions of their family history as she revisited La Gomera in later years.
Giorgia spent several summers with her father in the mid‑1980s, and 1988 marked one of her final visits to the island. Around that time, she attended swimming lessons at the yacht club in La Gomera, according to a neighbor familiar with Franco and his daughters. In that club, the sisters took part in performances and other events. Those who recall Giorgia describe her as a cheerful and spirited girl. Yet, the testimonies also reveal a sense of distance and what she perceived as a lack of consistent affection from her father during those years, a sentiment that lingered long after they left La Gomera.
Giorgia spent summers on the island during the mid‑1980s. According to her, 1988 was her last trip to La Gomera. During those years, she studied at the yacht club where the family once spent time, and neighbors recall her engaging in swimming lessons and social activities with local youths. The two sisters participated in plays and other club events. Those who knew Giorgia describe her as a bright, lively child, though the period also carried an undercurrent of separation that would define later years for the family. Yet, even then, the footprint of Meloni’s presence in La Gomera persisted in memories of the community and in the stories told by long‑time residents.