Renzo Santarelli was born in 1963 in Sovana and learnt the foundations of restaurant cooking at a catering school on Elba Island.

When he had finished his studies he joined his parents in opening one of Sovana’s first restaurants.

His learning continued with a wide range of experiences in Italy and overseas until joining the Ristorante dei Merli team in 2000.

A true local, Renzo is an expert in this region and its traditions, as well as in the many flavours and perfumes of the Maremman countryside.

His cooking reflects the traditional flavours of this territory and has been enriched by his many years of experience and expertise.