Berlusconi leaves legacy of love for elegant Architecture

He may have been the Italian Prime Minister together with a convicted criminal, but the news of the inevitable passing of Silvio Berlusconi brings to mind the series of elegant villas and properties which he occupied during his colourful life. For 26 years during his premiership he occupied a single floor of Palazzo Grazioli, a roman palace first built circa 1650 and restored in 1874.

In the early days, the 80' and 90's, he rented this beautiful Villa Olivetta in Portofino, apparently he wanted to buy this villa, but the owners at that time did not like him! When he left the Villa was subsequently purchased by Dolce and Gabbana, the fashion designers who decorated it with the opulence that you might expect, and most recently hosted the marriage pop star Sia.

His main home was Villa San Martino in Arcore (Monza, Milan), a significant property, photographs of which are limited, but the opportunities presented by Google Earth mean that we can all take a sneak preview!

Villa Certosa, on the cost of Sardinia, a disappointingly brash property including six swimming pools, an amphitheatre and an underground cave leading to the ocean, was the home of his famous Bunga Bunga parties which inevitably resulted in his demise and incarceration.

And then there are the elegant Villa Belvedere (Villa Visconti di Modrone), a 17th century country estate, which was remodelled through time, and which he took as a project and restored to its former glory.

Even the smaller lakeside villa on the shore of Lake Como portrays his love for architecture, and the simplicity of this elevation begs the imagination to take in the views over the lake from the villa.

All in all, apart from the severe misgivings of his actions, Berlusconi had an educated taste in Italian architecture and certainly made sure that during his 84 years he was to enjoy the benefits of beautiful spaces.

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