“When I was a very young girl, I used to tell my mom that my dream as a grownup was to have breakfast in a hotel every morning, every day of the year. And that actually turned out to be true. But I didn't think I would work in the family business in the beginning. It was like a love story in the end. It's unexpected who you fall in love with and I think I fell in love with hospitality, and then here I am.” We’re in great company with Sara Maestrelli, the mysterious “Lady of the Palazzo,” and proud Owner of the recently opened Violino d’Oro, the latest jewel in her family’s collection of hotels, located near the historical Grand Canal in the charming city that is Venice. Violino d'Oro is an “Italian artisanal project, designed like a home”, highlighting the hospitality business Collezione EM that has been actively curated for over three decades by the female lineage of the talented Italian Florentine family.  In this episode, Sara eloquently paints a picture with her words, showing how every corner of her boutique hotel is infused with Italian craftsmanship designed to outlast time and trend, with a more mindful and responsible approach to travel. Top Takeaways [1:45] Get to know a modern-day Renaissance Woman -  from growing up between Florence and New York, studying Neuroscience and Philosophy in Milan and London, spending a gap year in Switzerland, and all the while building a community of artists and craftspeople.  [5:20] Little did Sara’s grandfather know when he purchased the historical Grand Hotel Minerva in Florence, that he would inspire his daughter, Sara’s Aunt Elena, to build the family’s collection of hotels known today as Collezione EM.  [8:10] “A collection is a collection of things that you love, that you pick up in time, that have a special place, and this is exactly what happened for Collezione EM. It's something that has been curated in time. Each hotel definitely has its own story. And when people ask me what ties them together, it's actually their differences, their individual identities.” [9:00] Learn about the slow curation of Collezione EM hotels over time, from their historical roots in Florence to how they summered in Forte dei Marmi amongst other Italians in search for understated luxury.  [16:20] Sara learned very early on in the family business that it is not about the buildings, or the things inside the buildings, that make the hotels memorable. It is about the people there and the way they experience that sense of place that really makes the world of difference.  [21:10] “When they ask us ‘Why Venice?’ We say, ‘Why not?’” Sara explains how Venice is the greatest work of art mankind has ever created, as she has experienced first hand, literally, in renovating three separate hotels into one, the Violino d’Oro that stands true today.  [32:20] Just as Venice is complicated, intricate and intense, so it was in curating the design and details of Violino d’Oro to celebrate its craftsmanship and artistry throughout its 600 years of history.  [38:00] Expect to Dine In Good Company at Il Piccolo, where guests can indulge in the symphony of Venetian flavors from breakfast in bed to cicchetti and spritz at aperitivo. [41:30] When guests stay at such a place as Violino d’Oro, they have the unique opportunity to meet the local makers, explore their shops, purchase their products, because of their relationship with the Maestrelli’s.  [43:10] And the family collection continues with their next hidden gem in Pensione America, opening in Forte dei Marmi in 2025.  Notable Mentions Carlo Scarpa, Italian Architect & Designer La Bienalle Di Venezia Cultural Exhibition  Cantine del Vino gìa Schiavi  Cantina Do Spade Firenze: Grand Hotel Minerva Brunelleschi Hotel Ristorante Santa Elisabetta Forte dei Marmi Villa Roma Imperiale Pensione America Bagno Assunta Visit For Yourself Violino d’Oro Website | @violi