20 August 2026
Florence
Starting this month, for all of you who follow us with dedication and affection on our blog, we have decided to introduce a short section of interviews with our staff, a way to connect with the people behind Palazzo Castri, and beyond, letting you into our passions, what drives us, and what has brought us this far.
We begin with our General Manager, Chiara Figini.
Chiara, when and how did you start doing this job?
It's a long story, which began in 2007 when I was promoted to hotel manager in Armenia. The Best Western Congress Hotel is a fond memory of an extraordinary land.
What is your professional background?
I graduated in languages with Russian as my first language. After graduating, I looked for a career path that would take me to Russian-speaking countries and during an internship at the Italian embassy in Tbilisi, I met a representative of the RENCO group who suggested I send my resume to the company because they were always looking for young talent. That's how I ended up in Kazakhstan and then Armenia. I worked my way up in a predominantly male world. I did an internship in Kazakhstan at a hotel in Atyrau belonging to the group I worked for for 15 years, and then in Armenia at the then Golden Tulip Hotel Yerevan (now Grand Hotel Yerevan). I worked in all areas of the hotel, from food & beverage to reception, housekeeping, and even housekeeping/warehouse management and ordering.
What has been the greatest satisfaction you have had during your professional career?
That's difficult to answer. There have been and still are so many satisfying moments. After all, when you are passionate and committed, you achieve great results, even if not immediately. One of the greatest joys was the recognition of my work by my colleagues when I was director of two hotels in Yerevan (Congress Hotel and Grand Hotel Yerevan). It was 2015: I was leaving my position to return to Italy to oversee the pre-opening of Palazzo Castri. They wrote me a beautiful letter thanking me for the professional journey we had taken together, sharing our struggles and successes and making me feel truly like the leader I want to be. Someone who listens, understands, and is a guide for everyone, a safe point of reference to turn to, a positive example.
And what is the biggest and most complex challenge you have faced?
I would definitely say managing two facilities with a total of 200 employees, two restaurants, 230 rooms, two swimming pools, four bars, and meeting rooms.
If you had to tell us what you are most proud of in your experience at Palazzo Castri?
Palazzo Castri is my jewel, born from my hands, and I cherish it as if it were my own. I am proud of my team, which works as a single entity with shared goals in serving our guests. The results we have achieved are a testament to my daily commitment and that of the team. Being in the top 20 hotels in Florence for 10 years and receiving the Travellers' Choice Award three times is a reflection of what we do at Palazzo Castri and what we mean by "hospitality."
