Ilaria Bichi Ruspoli was born and raised in Val d’Orcia, a World Heritage site located in Southern Tuscany, Italy. She descends from an ancient noble Sienese family related to pope Pius II Piccolomini, that has lived in the same castle since 1465.  Her family runs a historic farm. She studied Humanities in Montepulciano and graduated in Art History at the University of Studies in Siena (2002). She holds a PhD in Sienese sculpture of the XVIth century (2008). Her background is Medieval and Renaissance culture. She has been working as a cultural guide since 2002. She also teaches Italian as a foreign language and gives tours and lectures mainly focused on history and art, with a particular interest for ancient families, historic private houses, and gardens. She is vice-president for Tuscany of the “Associazione Dimore Storiche Italiane” (Italian Historic Houses Association). She has published several articles and guidebooks about the Sienese art, like “The floor of the Siena Cathedral”, “The hospital of Santa Maria della Scala. A visitor’s guide”, “Underground Siena”, and a childrens’ book “Theo, Sophia, and the adventure in the Duomo of Siena”.