Texas-born Italian princess who posed for Playboy to be kicked out of her $538M Rome villa

I had forgotten Rita. Back in her day she was a seriously lovely lady. I had never seen she had gone on to marry Italian nobility.

[quote] I could see why her past might unnerve them.

Why?

I've met her too. In Rome. I toured the villa. Stunning of course but needed cash for upkeep.

"Why?"

You think that grand old families are comfortable with new additions who've involved themselves in that kind of very public controversy? What about posing nude in smutty magazines? Do they generally love that as well?

Please. They're not exactly delicate flowers. They had a former pornstar in parliament for 5 years.

Rita was in Playboy, not Hustler. She looked extraordinary. Then went on to graduate from Harvard Business School. Not some tiktok model.

Shes going to walk away with more money than most people could even dream off. Sucks to lose the house but I aint cryin for her.

It has nothing to do with her past...its the typical stepmother vs step-children drama that always happens when money is involved. The home is being sold, so of course, she has to move...she isn't being kicked-out.

[quote] You think that grand old families are comfortable with new additions who've involved themselves in that kind of very public controversy? What about posing nude in smutty magazines? Do they generally love that as well?

And why are they uncomfortable? No one in the 21st century cares. That’s not controversial.

Well maybe you can explain that to members of grand old titled families, and not me, since I'm neither old nor titled, and don't hold those views.

It's nice to see another property whose art celebrates the male penis. I, too, have male nudes as a recurring artistic theme throughout my home. They're no 16th century frescas or Michaelangelo marbles, but I think they set an elegant tone that rivals what is shown in the article.

OP you just don't have a clue. not a single one....

As with many European families this isn't as much about the widow per se, but assets and money.

Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi doesn't have funds to keep that old pile from crumbling down, and her step-sons who have an interest in property by right want what's coming to them. Similar battles have played out in not just European families, but American as well. Jackie Kennedy didn't step in to stop her mother's home in Newport from being sold off, this despite side eyes and snide remarks from her sister, and step siblings.

Widow Boncompagni Ludovisi isn't being turfed out with just clothes on her back. In fact when all is said and done even after taxes she will get quite a nice sum from sale of property.

Will give you what RBL fears will happen likely will; Asian, South American, Middle Eastern, Russian or American money will swoop in and buy Casino dell'Aurora. They are only ones with deep enough pockets (by current estimates Jeff Bezos "makes" about $205 million USD per day), to afford not just purchase price, but to sink another 12-13 million or more into the place.

All this being said sale of this property to private hands is not a foregone conclusion. Great amount of noise has been raised in Italy calling on government to block auction and buy property for the nation.

Italy like France and many other European countries have laws giving state first right of refusal on certain properties (in France IIRC local government has first dibs on any property for sale), especially those deemed historically or culturally significant.

Public long has had access to gardens of villa, something that would not change even if sold to another private owner. Inability to keep the public away might damper interest from some mega wealthy. That is some oily Eastern European or Middle Eastern git cannot turn the place into an armed fortress.

I love the Michaelangelo statue of Pan in the garden!

Is it my poor vision or does that statue of Pan have a hard-on?

'I don't think I've ever seen a classical statue before in that state.

It isn't pretty, either. Too thin.

It's a veritable Palazzo di Finooks.

I've seen that Pan statue up close. It's just casually slumped against a wall like a cheap garden ornament. And it does have a hard on.

Rita Jenrette—now [italic]she's[/italic] a blast from the past.

[quote]They're no 16th century frescas or Michaelangelo marbles, but I think they set an elegant tone that rivals what is shown in the article.

I imagine centerfolds from Inches or Honcho Magazine scotch taped to the walls.

And Pan's beard looks like a vagine. Michaelangelo has such humour!

Like he knew what a vagina looked like.

Place has it's own Wiki page, who knew..

From NYT

[quote] I imagine centerfolds from Inches or Honcho Magazine scotch taped to the walls.

Maybe he will open his home to us, for tours!

Rather "meh" IMHO far as interiors go. Grounds are lovely however....

Sale was a bust, not a single bidder stepped up to plate with an offer. There will be another go on 7 April with property going for revised estimate of €376.8 million euros, a 20% reduction.

Under Italian law state cannot step in and acquire property until it has been sold to a private individual. Italy would have to offer at least same price whoever bought the place paid at minimum floor for start of negotiations.

Thing is with Villa Aurora virtually all value of property save is tied to that Caravaggio mural and other art work. Like scores of other great ancient piles all over Europe, the place requires tens of millions invested in repair and restoration.