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In the first year that I moved to Rome, I had a breakdown. My boyfriend and I broke up, I had no wifi at home and nothing was working. I walked aimlessly (and full of self-pity) through the streets of Trastevere, and found the only internet cafe in the neighborhood. It was closed and I was done. Basta. I remember sitting on the stoop, crying to my friend Julia’s answering machine when a male voice from above shouted “ma che c’hai? Vieni su con noi!” (what’s up? Come here and join us). I shook my head no, as if that was going to happen and then a female voice said “Daje. Vieni. Sono Giorgia.” So I went up, we hung out and that is a quick Trastevere tale.
Fast forward 13 years to the sultry lounge of Hotel Vilon. I’m there to review this (at the time) new luxury boutique hotel and meet the General Manager when over walks Giorgia. I quickly introduce myself and mention that it’s possible we met a long time ago when some guy named Simone convinced to hang out with him and his friends. As it turns out, Giorgia is the General Manager I am waiting to meet.
In the years that passed between playing foosball on a Trastevere terrace to holding court in the Vilòn lounge, Giorgia has traveled the world, working in film and luxury hospitality in Italy and Mexico. Today, she is the general manager of an 18-room hotel in the center of Rome off Via del Corso in the compound of the historic Palazzo Borghese. And she is Rome’s only female GM of a luxury five star property.
The lounge at Hotel Vilòn. Points for the extra-large Massimo Lissi painting.>
““I love Rome because it really gives you a lot of different things if you are lucky enough, of course, and smart enough to take advantage out of it.””
If there is anyone who knows Rome, it is Giorgia Tozzi. Born and raised in the Eternal City, she’s explored the city intensely through her careers in film and hospitality. So of course I had to ask her where to go, what to do and what to see in Rome. Find out on by listening in to the podcast!
MORE IN THIS EPISODE
(01:29): Meet Giorgia Tozzi
(05:37): The Big Break
(06:31): Giorgia’s Return to Rome
(13:56): The making of Hotel Vilòn
(17:43): Lounging around Hotel Vilòn
(23:32): Getting to know and understand Rome
(30:05): Giorgia’s top restaurants picks for Rom
(32:41): Galleries, Museums and More
RELATED LINKS
5 Boutique Rome Stays to Check out this Summer
A Local’s Guide to Rome, Italy…
Loving the Layover at Rome’s FCO, Boarding EALL CIAO BELLA PODCASTS
TUNE IN
…and keep listening as I sit down at the table with innovators, creators, artists, and more who are revolutionizing Italy. New episodes drop every Monday! Subscribe and rate my podcast on iTunes!
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Feature image: Giorgia Tozzi, Rome’s first (and could be only) female GM of a luxury hotel. Photo by Erica Firpo.
