THE TEAM
A story forty years in the making
MANY MODEL MAKERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE HZERO PROJECT
The model railway, the undisputed centerpiece of the museum, was born from the imagination of Giuseppe Paternò Castello di San Giuliano and the dedicated work of a group of passionate model makers who joined him in this grand forty-year adventure.
This talented group of individuals brought to life this unique model, now proudly displayed in the heart of Florence: Carlo Brandolini D’Adda, the first to join the endeavor; Vito D’Amico, who laid the initial tracks; Marco Baldi, who designed the urban landscapes and natural scenery; Beppe Innocenti, who crafted the mountainous terrain and rocks; Edoardo Pennacchio, who worked on the overhead railway lines; Alberto Pero, the mastermind behind the Märklin three-rail circulation system in collaboration with engineer Gino Guerrini; Giuseppe Mutolo, who built bridges, viaducts, retaining walls, tunnels, and other structures; and Valerio Cencetti, the creator of the two helicoidal structures. Inspired by the vision and passion of Giuseppe Paternò Castello di San Giuliano, they turned this one-of-a-kind model into a reality.
Our Team
DIEGO PATERNÒ CASTELLO DI SAN GIULIANO
Son of the founder and president of the HZERO museum since its inception. He held various operational roles at Salvatore Ferragamo until 2005 and served as a member of its board of directors from 2006 to 2020, including five years in a special role coordinating the Group’s digital activities.
ALBERTO SALVADORI
Project manager of HZERO from the start. He specializes in museum and contemporary art institution management, is the founder and director of ICA Milano and the executive director of Archivio Mulas in Milan.
EMMA MORETTI
Director of the HZERO museum since March 2024. After earning a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Milan, she moved to Florence to complete a Master’s in Cultural Heritage Management. She has experience in managing cultural events and training programs for cultural heritage professionals.
CHIARA MASSETI
Administrative manager of HZERO. Before managing administration and human resources, she was involved in relocating the model railway from Scandicci to Florence starting in 2019. She is also the personal assistant to Diego Paternò Castello di San Giuliano, supporting him in the administrative management of several family projects.
CAROLINA GESTRI
Coordinator of the HZERO team since 2018 and responsible for second-floor installations. An art historian, teacher, and curator, she has collaborated with institutions such as the Museo Marino Marini, the Museo Novecento in Florence, and the Centro Pecci in Prato. She currently teaches at IED Florence and in undergraduate and graduate courses at the Istituto Marangoni Florence.
PAOLA MONTICELLI
Head of communications at HZERO since June 2023. After earning a degree in Journalism and gaining experience in traditional communication and print media, she specialized in social media marketing, digital strategy, and content creation. She has worked on various cultural events, including La Città dei Lettori, Danzainfiera, the Festival della Partecipazione, and museum-related projects such as Villa Bardini and OCA Oasy Contemporary Art.
NERI TORRIGIANI
Head of graphic identity and external relations at HZERO. Founder of a design and communication studio, he collaborates with many contemporary institutions in Florence, including the Museo Marino Marini and the Gregor von Rezzori Literary Prize – Città di Firenze, where he is a member of the organizing committee. He is a founding member of the Fabbrica Europa Association, which produces the Fabbrica Europa Festival. Additionally, he is the creator and organizer of the Artigianato e Palazzo exhibition and a founding member of the CORRI LA VITA Onlus Association.
Our maintenance team
Alberto Pero Proietti
Luca Papini
Riccardo Tarquini
Salvatore Troise
Luigi Amari
Francesco Salvato
Niccolò Fuso
Camila Defeo
Work with Us
We are always looking for new talent to expand our team. If model railroading is your passion and you’d like to turn it into a career, visit our dedicated section to explore open positions or send us a spontaneous application.
