Our expert team

Creator of Essenza and the Le Pratola Collection, Margherita has been successfully taking care of guests in Italy for 12 years, consistently achieving 5 star guest review ratings. Also a qualified banker and property developer, Margherita's passions are travel, Italian design, running and Tuscan wines.

Voted Conde Nast Top Travel specialist Chiara knows Italy intimately and can guide guests with precision. Chiara's essential book of contacts means there is little she cannot organise. Also a qualified interior designer of homes and yachts, Chiara's passions are travel, cooking and baking and everything Italian.

Serena is one of our Concierge Manager looking after the day-to-day operations of Essenza and meeting clients while in residence. After a degree in Art History in Florence, she became an interior designer with a passion for contemporary design. Serena knows Italy inside out and is a precious asset to create memorable itineraries for our guests.

Camilla is one of our Concierge Manager. She takes care of itinerary planning and liaising with clients while in residence for Essenza. She is an interpreter and translator with proficiency in English, Chinese and Italian and her passions are foreign cultures, gastronomy and nature. Camilla looks after our guests with passion and professionalism.

Mariana has a key role on the Concierge & Operations team. With a degree in Business Administration, Mariana has travelled worldwide & lived in different continents. As a knowledgeable travel designer & qualified sommelier, action experience and research are her most important values. She has a passion for Yoga, wine, travel, books and gastronomy.

Lucy is a Senior Media Buyer and Essenza's campaigns manager. She uses her digital expertise to create effective strategies and compelling campaigns. From a young age Lucy has been passionate about cycling and is a keen mountain biker regularly traveling abroad for adventures.

Elizabeth's twin passions are cycling and wine. Having competed at the semi pro/pro level for road, MTB and track racing, she was crowned Champion of Lombardy three times during her illustrious racing career. Elizabeth is also a qualified sommelier and a published Wine Critic on wine guide Duemilavini. Today Elizabeth enjoys offering the best rental cycling equipment and private guided tours in Tuscany.

Arsen is an experienced estate and house manager, taking good care of our client's needs and inspecting new properties. Arsen's background in wine production and olive oil harvesting means he's full of practical advice and support. Together with his wife Ergisa, Arsen expertly manages Villa Le Pratola, Gaiole in Chianti.

Luca's love of medieval Italian history has won him academic awards, scholarships and graduation from Oxford University. Luca's ability to relate historical events means he's able to explain in an engaging manner the 'why' to much of how Italy operates today. Luca's passions encompass global travel, learning new languages, economics and international relations.

Harry is our digital asset and social media expert. Having raced at a top amateur level in Europe on road and track, he now competes in ultra distance cycling events like Transcontinental. With experience working within the cycling industry, Harry is bringing over his expertise to Essenza paired with a growing passion for Italy.

Katia is our gastronomy expert for central Italy. Katia has a First level Master degree in Culture of Nutrition and Food and Wine Traditions, is a qualified Tour in Emilia Romagna and is a qualified Official Cheese Taster. Katia has studied and worked in England, Spain and Australia in gastronomic tourism.

Expert in gastronomic tourism providing consulting and advisory within Italy and Latin America. An official Italian tourism guide and certified sommelier. Rosina personally guides guests on gastronomic walking tours of Rome.