Il leone verde was created in Turin in 1997 with the purpose of publishing texts never translated in Italian or little known. Translations are always from the original language. Introductions, critical essays and notes to the text are edited by specialists of the fields, but are intended for the general public.

Il leone verde has published texts from western and eastern Christian tradition as well as Hindu, Tibetan, Muslim and pagan writings: mystic, metaphysical and symbolic texts and books from the hermetic tradition and hagiographies. Contemporary essays about symbolic and spiritual subjects with a traditional perspective have also been published.

Other collections include I gioielli (ancient texts from Sufism), Leggere è un gusto! (52 titles on international gastronomic) and Il bambino naturale (subjects related to infants and young children, childcare and parenting).

Their catalog includes 180 titles with 20 new ones in 2011. In 1998, they won the Premio Editore Donna (Women’s Publishing Award). Two of their most famous authors are Grazia Honegge Fresco, a follower of Montessori education, and Venus Khoury Ghata, one of the most important Lebanese writers and the recipient of numerous awards.They publish books on the natural child by some of the most well-known authors on the topic such as Alfie Kohn, Jan Hunt, James MacKenna, and Carlos Gonzalez.