Head of Capital Market Department
The people behind Building Heritage
Real estate at this level is not a service you receive from a company. It is a relationship you build with a person. Every client who works with Building Heritage knows exactly who is handling their mandate, and has direct access to that person throughout the process.
Our team combines over 25 years of collective experience in the Italian luxury market with the international reach of Forbes Global Properties. Each member brings a specific discipline: residential sales, institutional transactions, wine estate advisory, architecture, client services. Together, they cover every aspect of a complex transaction without outsourcing to third parties.
Cinzia Romanelli
Founder and CEO
Cinzia Romanelli founded Building Heritage in Florence over 25 years ago, driven by the belief that the Italian luxury real estate market deserved an approach built on genuine expertise, cultural depth and personal accountability.
Under her leadership, Building Heritage has grown from a boutique Florentine agency into the exclusive Italian partner of Forbes Global Properties, a network with more than 650 offices in over 30 countries worldwide. This recognition reflects the standards she has maintained since the beginning: selectivity over volume, relationships over transactions, quality over quantity.
Cinzia has been named Global Woman Leader and has received recognition from the Fondazione ANT 1978 Onlus for social commitment alongside professional excellence. She works directly with clients on mandates that require the highest level of discretion and expertise.
Meet the People Behind Building Heritage
Jacopo DEL MAESTRO
A leading force in Capital Markets, advising domestic and international investors on high-value real
estate transactions across Italy.Focusing on hospitality assets, resort developments, and income-
producing commercial properties, including logistics, data centers, and sale-and-leaseback
opportunities.Covering off-market sourcing, due diligence, acquisition processes, and complex
negotiations, combining local market access with a discreet and execution-oriented approach.
Fluent in Italian, English, and French, supporting investors with clear advice, direct
communication, and a strong focus on long-term value creation.
Chiara GENNARELLI
Head of Growth – International Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) Residential & Capital Market
Legal background as a qualified attorney with 10+ years negotiating and structuring contracts for
international clients seeking primary residences, relocation opportunities, investment properties,
and trophy assets. Expert in navigating complex due diligence and resolving legal, cadastral, and
administrative matters, she advises UHNWI/HNWI clients, family offices, and funds across both
capital markets and high-end residential real estate.
Arianna GIOVANNINI
Agent – Head of International Department – UHNW
Luxury real estate specialist since 2013, helping clients find homes that reflect their dreams,
lifestyle, and future. With a background in marketing and communication, a strong aesthetic sense,
and attention to detail, I offer a personalized service built on trust, transparency, and integrity.
Diego D’ANTONIO
Senior Agent – Business Development
With over 25 years of experience in real estate, Diego D’Antonio brings solid market expertise and
a relationship-driven approach. Based near Florence for more than 15 years, with a professional focus on student housing, hospitality, and residential projects for private and institutional investors all over Italy.
Kety CIKO
Senior Agent
With over 10 years of experience in real estate and a background in property valuation, the approach combines expertise, care, and a true passion for luxury homes.
Built on trust, empathy, and attention to detail, each client journey is guided with warmth and professionalism helping people find not just a property, but a place to truly call home.
Luca MARILLI
Senior Advisor
More than twenty years in international luxury real estate have built a deep understanding of the market, combined with a strong focus on the client relationship.
He offers tailored solutions and off-market opportunities, coordinating every stage of sales and rental transactions with precision and discretion. Through direct, qualified relationships, he also identifies high-potential investment opportunities and supports clients through the most complex dynamics of the property market.
Sara VALDIVIESO
Senior Hospitality Consultant
With over 15 years of experience in hotel development, operations, and strategic investments and
a strong background in international hotel companies.
She combines strategic expertise with a strong results-driven mindset, commercial awareness, and
a creative approach to business growth.
Tommaso FANTECHI
Wine Estates Specialist
From premium listings to off-market opportunities, helping clients identify the right property with
vision, precision, and long-term value. Tommaso provides access to exclusive investment
opportunities across Italy, with particular expertise in off-market luxury assets and wine estates.
His approach is personal, discreet, and strategic, always guided by trust and by the client’s real
ambitions.
Francesco DI PINTO
Luxury Property Specialist
With a natural ability to connect with people, every experience becomes more personal, authentic,
and locally rooted, going beyond the property itself to create a genuine connection with the place,
its lifestyle, and its opportunities.
Ana Luisa BERLIN ZANELLA
Architect & Real Estate Consultant
With a natural eye for beauty, architecture, and cultural identity, she brings a refined global
perspective to luxury real estate, with expertise that also extends to Emilia-Romagna. As an
architect, she understands each property beyond its market value, reading its history, character,
and potential to create a more meaningful, authentic, and locally rooted experience for every
client.
Benedetta PECCHIOLI
Advisor
A strong familiarity with the real estate market developed from an early exposure to the sector, which later became a professional path. With dedicated studies, continuous training, and more than 10 years of experience, the focus is on understanding clients’ needs from the very beginning and selecting only properties that closely match their expectations. Particular attention is given to the luxury real estate market, where Italy offers a wide range of exceptional opportunities.
Maziar GHODS
Strategic Real Estate Advisor
Active in the luxury real estate market since 2016, Maziar Ghods has developed an in-depth knowledge of the Florentine market and an established network of relationships with property owners, entrepreneurs and investors.
At Building Heritage | Forbes Global Properties, he specialises in commercial real estate investments, with a particular focus on hospitality and retail. His approach combines market expertise, strategic vision and analytical skills to identify investment opportunities and maximise property value.
Sabrina BARONI
Advisor
With a passion for real estate and a deep knowledge of Tuscany, her goal is to help clients buy, sell, or invest with confidence.
A personal and reliable approach, combined with local expertise, strong connections, and attention to detail, ensures a smooth and successful experience at every step.
Stefano BALLERI
Advisor
With over 27 years of experience in credit management, NPL/UTP, real estate enforcement proceedings and real estate advisory, he has developed solid expertise in the analysis and enhancement of complex property assets.
In luxury real estate, he works alongside owners, investors and qualified operators in the management and enhancement of prestigious properties, hospitality businesses, winery estates and high-value investments, operating through a select and confidential international network.
Mari D’ELIA
Advisor
Nearly thirty years of experience across relationships, communication, hospitality and real estate have shaped a distinctive vision of property enhancement.
Historic residences, villas, masserie and one-of-a-kind properties are selected and brought to their full potential through a deep understanding of place, strong relationships and strategic vision, creating new opportunities while preserving identity and authenticity.
Vittoria DEL VECCIA
Head of Administration
With more than ten years in real estate, a field that has become a true passion over time, she coordinates and manages the entire administrative and contractual side of the business, ensuring precision and efficiency at every stage. At the same time, she maintains a direct relationship with clients, handling sales and rental appointments and guiding them with professionalism and care.
Paolo SANTORO
Strategic Ambassador
Entrepreneur, author and communicator, he brings more than thirty years of experience across audiovisual production, communication and relationship building. Founder of Beep Studios and creator of THE SALT, he has worked with leading international organisations, gaining extensive experience in branding, content and strategic connections.
At Building Heritage | Forbes Global Properties, he develops strategic relationships and new opportunities between properties, entrepreneurs, investors and international partners, contributing to the enhancement of projects and estates of particular significance.
Aurora LACI
Office Coordinator
With a background in surveying and three years of real estate experience, she combines client relations with back-office coordination, managing client reception and scheduling while supporting the team to ensure efficient daily operations and high service standards.
Cinzia ROMANELLI
Ceo & Founder
Her vision has shaped the way we approach real estate: a refined dialogue between Tuscany’s architectural heritage, meaningful relationships, and long-term investment culture. For her, every property embodies legacy, identity, beauty, and enduring value.
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Ginevra NICCOLINI
Advisor, Pr & Communication
Born and raised in Florence, with both Florentine and English roots, I spent more than twenty years in marketing, PR and communication for international fashion and luxury brands in Milan before returning home.
Today I bring that experience to the world of fine Tuscan property, along with an international outlook, a refined aesthetic sense and genuine attention to detail.
I believe finding the right home is as much about understanding people as it is about understanding places.
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