ITALY – One of the most beautiful villas in the Italian capital will go up for auction on Tuesday. With a painting by Caravaggio in one of its rooms, estimates are skyrocketing.
Benoit Leroy – Video: Quentin Fichet, Florence Leenknegt and Jean-François Douillet –
471 million euros on ads. Villa Aurora may well break records as it prepares to be sold in Italy, right in the heart of Rome. All thanks to the presence of a unique painting in the world. Inside, works by Dali, Chagall and even Picasso… Which will not be for sale. On the ceilings, on the other hand, many decorations are worth several million. One of the last was estimated at 30 million euros.
“When you own such a place, you understand that you are not much compared to it”, says Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi, one of the co-owners who will have to say goodbye to this 2,800 m2 residence, in the TF2 8 p.m. video.
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But one of the most beautiful jewels of the sumptuous house is located on the second floor. It cannot be moved. This is a painting by Caravaggio, done directly on the wall. A unique work in the world which today would be worth 310 million euros. Never removed, it will be sold with the building.
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The Italian press, which does not hesitate to speak of “auction of the century“, rustles with rumors about the names of the potential buyers of this artistic and architectural treasure, citing among others Bill Gates or the Sultan of Brunei.
If this historic sale is to take place, it is because of a conflict of inheritance, opposing the owner to the descendants of Prince Nicolò, who died in 2018. The Italian State could become the buyer, on condition of paying half -billion euros: under Italian law, the government can only exercise its right of pre-emption after the actual acquisition of the property by an individual, within 60 days of the conclusion of the sale and in offering the same purchase price.
The house could also be transformed into luxury apartments or a museum. The auction, to which billionaires from all over the world whose list is kept secret, have been invited, will begin on Tuesday in the early afternoon and will last 24 hours. The minimum starting price has been set at 353 million euros. Only amateurs who have paid 10% of the initial bid will be admitted to bid.
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