They say ‘home is where the heart is’, but late former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi clearly needed a stupidly lavish base to reside in, too.
Bragging multiple bedrooms, reception rooms, large terraces, open-air spots for dining, views over the Tyrrhenian Sea, helipad facilities and even a secure underground bunker, his former Sardinian villa was more vast luxury complex than humble abode, but its grandiosity is nothing but on-brand.
And while it’s been under the ownership of Berlusconi’s five children since his death in 2023, it’s now up for sale. Villa Certosa (formerly Villa Monastero) is actually one of the planet’s most expensive private residences with a ridiculously hefty price tag of €500 million, according to Travel Tomorrow.
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Originally purchased in 1980, the villa has hosted various political figures over the years, including George W. Bush, Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin (fun company, right?). Thanks to being designated by government decree as an ‘alternative location of maximum security for the safety of the Prime Minister,’ it has state secrecy protections.
But there are more fun amenities, too – namely sprawling terraced gardens and multiple pools with Costa Smeralda coastline views, private beach access and something called a sea grotto where you can dock your boat, plus guest bungalows, a Roman-style amphitheatre, oh, and state-of-the-art wine cellars.
Local paper La Nuova Sardegna said that holding company Fininvest has received ‘various expressions of interest’, while Travel Tomorrow reports that speculative buyers could include both the Sultan of Brunei and the Four Seasons hotel group. No deal has been agreed yet, though, so now could be your chance!
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