About SpecialItaly


 

The SpecialItaly Story: Vision, Craft, and Uncompromising Standards

SpecialItaly was not conceived in an abstract boardroom, it was built stone by stone, founded on a deep personal commitment to the architecture, landscape, and authentic soul of Italy.

The Foundation: Where Northern Precision Meets Italian Soul

Our journey began in the late 1990s. Dutch founders Rob Landeweerd and Jeroen Macco traveled across Italy from north to south, captivated by its regional heritage, peerless gastronomy, natural topography, and the profound generosity of its people. We ultimately chose to anchor ourselves in the country’s verdant center: Umbria, the lush green heart of Italy.

In 2006, we took the decisive step of building our own private residence perched along the panoramic border where Umbria meets Tuscany, overlooking Lake Trasimeno. Managing a complex ground-up build in Italy served as a definitive masterclass in foreign estate development. We experienced firsthand the intricacies of navigating Italian municipal bureaucracy, aligning with local planning codes, speaking the native language on-site, and coordinating trades to hit exacting deadlines without diluting artisan quality.

Most importantly, we realized the process itself could be deeply inspiring rather than exhausting. By uniting the strategic discipline of our international corporate careers with an uncompromising eye for architecture and design, we recognized a distinct mission: to bridge the gap between discerning international buyers and the complexities of Italian property creation.

The Evolution: From Regional Specialist to National Standard

In 2008, we formally established our company under the name SpecialUmbria to provide full-scope estate services, turn-key project management, and property advisory for international clients investing in high-end second homes.

Our hands-on approach and bespoke aesthetic resonated immediately. Over the subsequent years, our studio managed, oversaw, and directed the design and construction of more than 80 exclusive holiday villas and country estates across Central Italy, properties intentionally created to stand apart from generic mainstream developments, each celebrated for architectural integrity, tailored interiors, and respect for the surrounding landscape.

As our physical footprint widened, our service ecosystem evolved:

  • 2009 — Luxury Holiday Rentals: We launched our curated rental platform, granting international guests access to private, high-design country estates, restored farmhouses, and coastal residences. In 2026 we were representing 140 rental villas in Umbria, Tuscany, Le Marche, Sicily and Puglia.

  • 2010 — Regional Expansion with Domenico Casamassima: Born in Puglia, Domenico joined as an equal partner, anchoring our local expertise in Southern Italy and driving our expansion through Puglia and Sicily.

  • 2012 — Prime Real Estate Sales: We introduced our curated sales portfolio across Umbria, Tuscany, and Le Marche, offering buyers vetted, turn-key properties that bypass the typical risks of overseas acquisition.

  • 2025 — Coastal Sales in Puglia: Responding to sustained demand for authentic Mediterranean architectural living, we expanded our selective sales portfolio into Puglia.

  • 2026 — Rebranding to SpecialItaly: To reflect our established reach across Italy’s most coveted regions—from the tranquil hills of Umbria and Tuscany to the coastal vistas of Le Marche, Puglia, and Sicily, we unified our entire group under one definitive name: SpecialItaly (www.specialitaly.com). Specialpuglia and Specialsicily became the side brands for the activities in these regions.

Our Guiding Philosophy: The Personal Benchmark

At SpecialItaly, we operate under one non-negotiable rule across both sales and rentals: we only represent, build, or let a home if we would genuinely choose to live in it ourselves. We deliberately reject volume in favor of rigorous curation. Every property that carries our name must possess architectural distinction, an exceptional location, and an atmosphere that feels immediately like home.

Turning the Dream into a Frictionless Reality

Acquiring, building, restoring, or managing a prime property in Italy should be an energizing, life-enhancing milestone—never a source of cross-border anxiety. When you are oceans or borders away, having a dedicated on-the-ground team to protect your vision, enforce your budget, and oversee every line of execution is essential.

Backed by an experienced multilingual team and two decades of field experience, SpecialItaly exists to transform the romance of Italian living into enduring, tangible reality.

And why do we like to do this? Because we are enthusiastic of the unique combination among the progress of our own building project, living in Italy and enjoying the fun from our former positions: offering high quality services and working with people from all over the world.

We have some fine properties for sale. We also offer a fine collection of rental villas.

SpecialItaly is regularly being featured in the press.

Meet our team

Rob Landeweerd (1970) earned his Bachelor's Degree in Hotel & Hospitality Management. He has held various roles in the hospitality industry and later worked for several years at Randstad Group. In 2001, he joined a start-up recruitment and personnel search company, which he successfully developed and managed as Managing Director from 2002 to 2007.

Rob is one of the founding fathers and a company owner of SpecialItaly. Within the SpecialItaly team, he focuses primarily on rentals, project management, and interior design projects. He is also responsible for all marketing activities. Rob communicates fluently in Dutch, English and Italian.

Jeroen Macco (1971) graduated in Business Administration from Nyenrode Business School and earned a Master’s Degree in Business Economics from the University of Groningen, Netherlands. He worked as a Strategic Management Consultant for both the Royal Netherlands Air Force and ING Group. During his more than seven years at ING, he also held several management roles in Human Resources and Business Management within the company’s international operations.

Following this, Jeroen worked as an independent consultant for the Russian, Kazakh, and Romanian consumer operations of ABN AMRO Bank. In early 2010, he obtained registration as a recognized real estate agent in Italy, further enhanced with UNI 19932:2024 certification in 2026.

Jeroen is one of the founding fathers and a company owner of SpecialItaly. Within the team, he focuses primarily on sales, project management, and all financial, fiscal, legal, and regulatory matters related to clients’ projects and properties. He communicates fluently in Dutch, English and Italian.

Domenico Casamassima (1978) joined the SpecialItaly team in 2010. He graduated in Food Technology from the University of Potenza and also studied Dietetics at the University of Perugia.

Domenico is one of the company owners of SpecialItaly. He serves as the Head of Interior Design, leading all design projects with creativity, precision, and attention to detail. In addition, he is responsible for project management and property management in the Lake Trasimeno and Tuscan border area, ensuring that every property under SpecialItaly’s care meets the highest standards of quality and comfort.

Fluent in Italian and English, Domenico combines his design expertise with hands-on management skills, making him a key driver of both the company’s aesthetic vision and operational excellence.

Sara Ceccherini (1978) joined SpecialItaly in early 2017. She focuses on all aspects of sales management and serves as one of the company’s registered real estate agents. Sara brings extensive experience in international luxury services, tourism, and real estate, including high-profile projects for the Royal Family of Dubai and other prominent institutions in the Middle East.

Her expertise includes developing public relations, organizing business-to-business networking events, managing press relations, and executing marketing strategies. In early 2019, she obtained registration as a recognized real estate agent in Italy. Sara is fluent in Italian and English and combines her industry knowledge with a strong client-focused approach.

Lorenzo Antenucci (1989) joined the SpecialItaly team in January 2022. He is responsible for rental requests and contributes to property management activities. Born and raised in Umbria, Lorenzo studied Administration in Perugia.

Prior to joining SpecialItaly, he lived and worked for eight years in London, including six years at the exclusive fashion brand Tom Ford, where he honed his skills in international client relations and luxury service. Lorenzo is highly client-focused and brings great passion to the properties he manages, ensuring exceptional experiences for both guests and owners.

He communicates fluently in Italian, English, and French.

Lidia Paroli (1976) joined the SpecialItaly team in Spring 2018 as Accounting and Financial Controller. She holds a pivotal financial role, managing all financial, administrative, and tax matters for both our clients and our two SpecialItaly companies. In addition, she oversees all project management administration, ensuring that processes run smoothly and efficiently. Lidia communicates fluently in Italian and English, bridging operations across diverse teams and clients. Her expertise, precision, and dedication make her an indispensable part of the team, guaranteeing that both financial and administrative operations are handled with the utmost professionalism.

Alessandro Falini (1985) studied Engineering at the University of Perugia and has been with SpecialItaly since March 2017. He serves as Head of Property Management for the majority of the company’s properties in the Lake Trasimeno area, including Castiglione del Lago, Città della Pieve, and Piegaro. He is responsible for the daily management of the villas, overseeing guest check-ins, and ensuring that each property meets the highest standards of quality and service.

Alessandro communicates fluently in Italian and English, and his organizational skills and attention to detail make him a key contributor to delivering exceptional experiences for both guests and property owners.

Tamara Secci (1975) joined SpecialItaly in 2011 as Rental Support Officer. She is responsible for managing all rental communications and bookings, as well as supporting the content on the SpecialItaly website and other online platforms where the company is present.

Born to a Dutch mother and a Sardinian father, Tamara has a long-standing professional relationship with Rob Landeweerd, having worked alongside him for many years at their former company in the Netherlands. Her extensive experience, organizational skills, and client-focused approach make her a key member of the team.

Tamara communicates fluently in Dutch and English.

Elisa Brilli (1984) joined the team in 2022. She serves as the Sales and Project Management Support Officer at SpecialItaly, acting as the detail-oriented backbone of the team. Elisa oversees the myriad tasks behind the scenes that keep the sales process running smoothly. Her meticulous work, exceptional organizational skills, and dedication ensure that every aspect of sales and project management is executed efficiently.

Chiara Braganti (1996) has been a Junior Property Manager in the Property Management team at SpecialItaly since January 2026. She assists guests throughout their stay in our properties and serves as one of the main points of contact for property owners. She is responsible for all guest services.

Chiara graduated from the University of Perugia with a degree in Public Communication and has worked in various digital and social marketing roles in both Italy and the UK. She is fluent in Italian and English.

Veronica Mastrini (1986) Veronica Mastrini (1986) joined the SpecialItaly team in Summer 2026 as Accounting and Financial Assistant. Backed by a solid formation and education in Finance, Accounting & Control she built significant experience in various commercial business environments, before joining our team. At SpecialItaly she's assisting in all financial, administrative, and tax matters for both our clients and our two SpecialItaly companies. Veronica communicates fluently in Italian and English, bridging operations across diverse teams and clients