The Casino dell’Aurora, the historic residence in Rome, contains the only wall fresco ever painted by Caravaggio. However, the villa is not a museum, but a private house where the princess lives Rita Jenrette Boncompagni Ludovisiwho has no intention of leaving despite the judge’s eviction order arriving on Friday Miriam Iappelli of the Court of Rome, built after the collapse of one of the perimeter walls of the property, causing a roadblock. Ludovisi, now has 60 days to vacate the villa. The order, which she told Portal she was “stunned” to come after fifth auction – the first was in January 2022 – for the sale of the property. Once again, no willing buyer has been found 145 million euros necessary for the purchase. “I intend to vigorously defend my right of use [della villa, ndr]» explained the woman. “I’m trying not to get angry, but it’s hard.”
The fifth auction failed
Ludovisi, née Jenrette, has been living in her husband’s villa for 20 years Prince Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi before he died in 2018. In his wish, the prince granted the woman, his third wife, the right to live in the mansion, but the decision was contested by his children, leading to an occasion litigation. Finally, the parties agreed to auction the villa. But a year after the first hammer blow, there is still no buyer, although the price has fallen by 330 million euros compared to the original asking price. The next auction is planned for April.
Fresco by Caravaggio
Ludovisi, a former American Playboy actress and model, will therefore stay for at least 60 more days in the villa, which houses the only known wall fresco by Caravaggio: Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto. 3 meters long and 1.8 meters wide, commissioned in 1597, it alone is estimated at around 300 million euros. A good reason to welcome enthusiasts and scholars to the villa, as happened during the prince’s lifetime. Today, Ludovisi denies the court’s allegation that he organized illegal tours that would weigh on his position and were decisive in the eviction decision.
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