Fifty-seven million dollars. That’s the estimated value of Villa San Martino today. But its story is worth far more than any price tag.
Villa San Martino stands before us. It is not just bricks and mortar. It is a monument to power, tragedy, and the ever-murky waters of Italian history.
Originally, this villa was part of a vast estate. It included ninety hectares of land. In the 18th century, the Giulini family restructured it in a neoclassical style. They acquired it along with land from a Benedictine monastery.
Later, Villa San Martino passed to the Casati family. Alessandro Casati expanded the library here. He even welcomed his friend Benedetto Croce.
But a dark chapter unfolded involving Marquis Camillo Casati Stampa. In 1970, a crime shocked Italy. The Marquis, his wife Anna, and Massimo Minorenti were found dead. It was in their Rome duplex. Marquis Camillo Casati Stampa committed suicide after shooting his wife and her lover.
The Marquis was known for his wealth and eccentric behavior. He had a strange relationship with his wife Anna Fallarino. It involved voyeurism and what some called moral masochism. The press sensationalized the story. Some newspapers even published nude photos of Fallarino.
After the Marquis’s death, his minor daughter Anna Maria inherited the estate. Advised by a young lawyer named Cesare Previti, she sold Villa San Martino in 1974. The buyer? A rising entrepreneur named Silvio Berlusconi.
Berlusconi acquired Villa San Martino for a seemingly low price. He paid 500 million lire in shares of his construction company. Anna Maria later sold those shares back to Berlusconi for half the price.
Villa San Martino became Berlusconi’s primary residence. It also served as his headquarters. He even constructed a mausoleum in the park. Berlusconi was buried here after his death in 2023.
Previti’s career was intertwined with Berlusconi’s. He became a minister and parliamentarian. However, he was later imprisoned for bribery.
The villa’s history is filled with millions and murder. It is also filled with moral masochism. It is a gripping tale. It even made headlines internationally. It serves as a reminder of the complex history within these walls. The Villa San Martino is more than just a residence. It is a symbol of Italian power, scandal, and enduring fascination.