By Rosina Fracassini
Marinella is not just a real estate agent – she is a true interpreter of homes, of the stories they hold, and of the value they can express. Throughout her career, she has skillfully combined sensitivity and strategy, guiding clients through the processes of selling and buying with care, respect, and a constant eye for beauty and the potential of spaces.
Starting with this edition, our magazine is enriched by an authoritative voice deeply rooted in the local area: Marinella Coppi, a seasoned real estate professional known for her human, knowledgeable, and passionate approach to the world of buying and selling properties. In this column, she will take us behind the scenes of the real estate world, sharing stories, advice, and insights gained from hands-on experience. We’ll talk about property enhancement, relationships, changing landscapes, and homes that become dreams come true. A fresh, knowledgeable, and authentic perspective on the world of living – told by someone who experiences it every day with passion.
– Marinella, can you tell us a bit about yourself? How did your personal and professional journey in real estate begin? Was there a defining moment when you realized: “This is my path”?
My passion for real estate stems from a deep bond with the land and the historical memory of places, more than with houses themselves. As a child, I experienced things that left a lasting impression: my grandparents lived in a small farmhouse in the Chianti countryside, surrounded by other farmhouses, a little church, and even a tiny cinema they had created with the neighbours. It was a true village, rich in life and history, which was entirely demolished in the 1970s.
Returning there years later and finding nothing left felt like watching a part of my memory being erased.
I believe that moment sparked in me a kind of protective instinct toward the architectural and cultural heritage of our region – a sense of responsibility that, over time, turned into a strong passion: the desire to preserve what tells our story and our identity.
Even when I travel, I’m always drawn to authentic places and traces of the past that reveal a people’s lived experiences. This love for memory naturally transformed into a professional journey – almost out of inner necessity. So, in my work, I’ve always tried to protect historic properties from interventions that might distort their value, such as subdivisions or speculative projects.
Today, that same care is reflected in my choice to collaborate with architects and restorers specialized in conservation and renovation, able to work respectfully on protected or landscape-restricted buildings.
To me, it’s not about dealing in “prestigious” properties – because in Tuscany, especially in Chianti, excellence is everywhere: from small farmhouses to large estates, every building is an integral part of our social and cultural fabric.
That awareness, sometimes even unconsciously, is what has driven me to follow this path with passion and determination. Every property tells a story, and my role is to help preserve it.
– How was the Marinella Coppi Real Estate agency founded, and what is its mission?
The founding of the agency was a natural, almost spontaneous process – the result of a journey filled with meaningful encounters.
I often found myself acting as a bridge between different people who shared a common goal: to preserve, enhance, and respect the land. In many cases, the dialogue is between private individuals, which makes everything even more human and authentic.
It is within these dynamics that the agency’s mission takes shape: to protect the beauty and identity of places, guiding those who wish to become part of them with awareness and respect.
Sometimes, the desire to protect and enhance these places is even stronger in those who come from afar – people who look at Tuscany with fresh eyes and immediately recognize its uniqueness.
Meanwhile, those of us who live here every day risk taking for granted what is, in fact, an extraordinary heritage.
My work is often about creating these “special encounters” between people and homes. I believe there’s a precise moment when something clicks – an emotion, a connection. I often call it falling in love.
And it’s incredible to witness a dream come true – to see someone who has long cherished the desire for a home here finally make it happen, thanks in part to my support.
When that happens, and I feel the genuine gratitude of someone who has trusted me, I experience a deep satisfaction. It’s a rare feeling that goes beyond mere work – it’s the sense of having done something meaningful and beautiful, using not only my skills but also my heart.
– What values guide every one of your transactions or collaborations?
One of the values that best represents us is the desire to enhance each property to its fullest potential.
Often, we take on homes that were previously on the market without success. With a few targeted changes – some aesthetic or functional improvements, modest but well-thought-out investments – we can transform them, making them more appealing and properly positioned in the market.
In these cases, a proper comparative market analysis is crucial, combined with a well-defined marketing strategy: professional photography, home staging, personalized visits, and carefully chosen promotion channels.
When the owner places their trust in us, a principle of reciprocity is activated – and for us, that’s essential. It allows us to work with greater focus and commitment, often achieving results beyond expectations – in both value and sale timing.
We believe the best outcomes come when three key elements are present: mutual trust, a deep understanding of the needs involved, and a profound respect for everyone in the process – from the seller to the buyer, and every professional involved, including our agency.
For us, achieving the best possible result, while respecting people and the value of the property, isn’t just a goal: it’s what truly fuels our passion for this work.
– Nowadays, many are looking for the “authentic Tuscany”: what’s your secret to helping newcomers truly experience it?
Tuscany is a generous land, capable of speaking different languages to those who see it with dreaming eyes.
It’s vast, multifaceted, and precisely for that reason, it can fulfill profoundly different desires.
Some seek the more intimate and secluded Tuscany, still fragrant with tradition, hidden among lesser-known villages and unspoiled landscapes. To these people, we offer places where time seems to slow down – where beauty isn’t staged, but simply is.
Then there are those who come to us with the idea of the Tuscany from the collective imagination: the rolling hills between Siena and Florence, stone farmhouses embraced by vineyards, sunsets that set golden fields ablaze.
In those cases, our role is also educational and consultative: we help clients understand the differences between micro-areas, assess the legal aspects related to rustic properties (landscape restrictions, zoning regulations, renovation possibilities), and grasp the practical implications of living in rural, perhaps isolated, but incredibly authentic settings.
For many, Tuscany isn’t just a region – it’s an old dream, a promise of beauty and harmony.
I’ve often spoken with foreign clients who, when they say “Tuscany,” actually mean all of Italy. It’s a word that evokes emotions, visions, a deep sense of belonging.
My greatest satisfaction? That unrepeatable moment when, after years of searching and waiting, I find the right home for the right person.
Often, these are dreams nurtured since youth, carried throughout a lifetime. To recognize that dream within a conversation, to intuit the perfect location, to feel that a house is “the one” even before the client says so – that is what gives meaning to my work. It’s the greatest joy.
Do you have a question about real estate? A doubt about how to enhance a property or a dream tied to “your” Tuscany?
Write to us and share your story, your curiosity, or your experience. Each month, Marinella Coppi will select a few questions to answer directly in the column, offering concrete advice and expert insights on a fascinating and ever-evolving market. Send your request to: vl.chianti.valdelsa@gmail.com and become part of this open dialogue on the value of living.
Info: FIRENZE, Via Lungarno Cellini 25, Firenze
GREVE IN CHIANTI: Via Roma 43, Greve in Chianti (Fi)
Tel. +39 055 853559 / info@le-case.com / www.marinellacoppistudio.it