The 'collapsed' wall that led to eviction of Italian Princess
REVEALED: The ‘collapsed’ wall that sparked the bitter battle between Playboy model turned-Italian Princess and her step-children over $533M villa – as photos show opulent interior of the world’s most expensive home
- The property boasts an ornate ceiling, with the side panels painted by Guercino, Paul Bril, Domenichino, Gian Battista Viola
- Princess Rita Jenrette Boncompagni Ludovisi was forced to pack her bags and leave the property on Thursday
- Caravaggio’s only ceiling creation graces a tiny room off a spiral staircase on the second floor, and was commissioned in 1597
An American model turned Italian Princess has been evicted from her $533m home in Rome after a court ruled that she had not been taking care of the property – despite photos showing off the opulent interior of the house.
Princess Rita Jenrette Boncompagni Ludovisi was forced to pack her bags and leave the building after her step-children claimed in court that the property needs to be renovated.
A judge ruled in their favor after hearing that a wall at the property had ‘collapsed’, though photos show that roots appear to have knocked off a singular slab of marble at the property.
Her home, the Villa Aurora, contains the only known ceiling painted by Caravaggio, and the Princess denies allowing the home to get into a state of disrepair.
She claims that she and her husband spent $11million renovating the exterior of the property before opening its doors to the public and allowing students to learn inside.
A judge ruled in their favor after hearing that a wall at the property had ‘collapsed’, though photos show that roots appear to have knocked off a singular slab of marble at the property
Princess Rita Jenrette Boncompagni Ludovisi was forced to pack her four bichon frise dogs into a taxi on Thursday after being evicted from the historic property
They married in 2009 and lived in the property together until the death of Nicolò Boncompagni Ludovisi in 2018.
It is the world’s most expensive property, with pictures showing the opulent interior of the home with paintings and artwork around every corner.
The property has been offered for sale over the past three years for $533 million and the price was lowered to $353 million, but there are still no buyers.
Caravaggio’s ceiling creation graces a tiny room off a spiral staircase on the second floor, and was commissioned in 1597 by a diplomat and patron of the arts to decorate the ceiling of the small room being used as an alchemy workshop.
The 2.75-meter (9-foot) wide mural, which depicts Jupiter, Pluto and Neptune, is unusual – oil paint on plaster, and represents the only ceiling mural that Caravaggio is known to have painted.
It also boasts an ornate ceiling showing the countries, with the side panels painted by Guercino, Paul Bril, Domenichino, Gian Battista Viola.
The Casino Boncompagni Ludovisi also known as Casino dell’Aurora.
Frescoes on the ceiling by Italian artists including Guercino and Domenichino, are inside Villa Aurora
It also boasts an ornate ceiling showing the countries, with the side panels painted by Guercino, Paul Bril, Domenichino, Gian Battista Viola
Her home, the Villa Aurora, contains the only known ceiling painted by Caravaggio, and the Princess denies allowing the home to get into a state of disrepair
It is the world’s most expensive property, with pictures showing the opulent interior of the home with paintings and artwork around every corner
Professor of Classics at Rutgers University Corey Brennan told DailyMail.com that it was ‘indisputable’ the amount Rita had done to maintain the property
The Princess worked to help restore the building with her late husband for almost 20 years, discovering 150,000 documents in a previously unfound archive at the property.
It has been turned into a digital archive by undergraduates,. with highlights including detailed financial accounts for the Boncompagni and Ludovisi families, and 25 previously unknown letters of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
A formal collaboration with Rutgers University led to the creation of a course, with a focus on Gregory XIII Boncompagni (1572–85) and Gregory XV Ludovisi.
Professor of Classics at Rutgers University Corey Brennan told DailyMail.com that it was ‘indisputable’ the amount Rita had done for the property.
He said: ‘If the wall had fallen then ten million bricks would have descended, and it would have been destroyed.
‘The court document says that her property left behind is to be destroyed and we are worried about the historical archive which goes back to the 14th century.
Apart from the works by Caravaggio and Guercino, it contains important works of art by Pomarancio, Michelangelo, and a collection of Roman and Greek artefacts
The villa is the only remnant of a much larger estate established in the 16th century by Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte
After being evicted the Texas-born former Playboy model, formerly known as Rita Carpenter, was escorted by Carabinieri police out of the property with locksmiths changing the locks
Ornate furniture and artwork adorns the floors and walls of the luxury property, which changed hands on Thursday
A painting of Rita and her late husband Nicolo remains in the property, and it is unknown if his three heirs will keep it
‘The question is if it will be deemed to be hers and therefore destroyed. She has done so much with her husband for the property in 13 years.
‘It is indisputable that there has been a massive production of knowledge during the time that she has lived there.
‘Justice will prevail, the smoke will clear, and the dust will settle.’
Apart from the works by Caravaggio and Guercino, it contains important works of art by Pomarancio, Michelangelo, and a collection of Roman and Greek artefacts.
The Boncompagni Ludovisi are perhaps best known for having produced Pope Gregory XIII of Gregorian calendar fame.
The villa is the only remnant of a much larger estate established in the 16th century by Cardinal Francesco Maria Del Monte.
He was a diplomat, intellectual, art connoisseur, collector, protector and patron of famous figures such as Galileo Galilei and Caravaggio.
The princes Boncompagni-Ludovisi, heirs to the celebrated property and its vast collections, subdivided and sold the property in 1883.
The property has been offered for sale over the past three years for $533 million and the price was lowered to $353 million
The 2.75-meter (9-foot) wide mural, which depicts Jupiter, Pluto and Neptune, is unusual – oil paint on plaster, and represents the only ceiling mural that Caravaggio is known to have painted
Rome Judge Miriam Iappelli issued an eviction order in January, accusing the princess of having violated a previous order forbidding her from conducting guided tours of the property
One of the heirs, Prince Bante Boncompagni Ludovisi, was on hand Thursday at the villa to watch ‘that woman,’ as he refers to his father’s widow, leave the property
Family pictures adorn furniture table tops, including a snap of two bichon frise dogs which Rita was forced to take with her when she was evicted
After being evicted the Texas-born former Playboy model, formerly known as Rita Carpenter, was escorted by Carabinieri police out of the property with locksmiths changing the locks.
Rita is pictured on the cover of Playboy in 1984, three years after she first appeared in the magazine back in 1981
Posting a video shortly before her eviction, she said: ‘It’s illegal. I think that it’s a travesty this is a brutal ending and unnecessary.
‘It didn’t have to happen this way I don’t get it. Someone said it’s because I’m a woman and I’m American
‘This is so illegal it’s incomprehensible what they’re doing. It’s all about money obviously.’
Her step-children argued that the home, built in 1570, belongs to them, that their grandfather intended for them to inherit it and that their late father abused them and mismanaged his fortune.
They mounted a multi-pronged legal campaign to get control of the property so it can be sold.
Rome Judge Miriam Iappelli issued an eviction order in January, accusing the princess of having violated a previous order forbidding her from conducting guided tours of the property.
The Casino Boncompagni Ludovisi also known as Casino dell’Aurora. Pictured is the ornate ceiling showing the countries, with the side panels painted by Guercino, Paul Bril, Domenichino, Gian Battista Viola
The princess fantasised about living in Rome and marrying from a young age, travelling to the city at just 16
Tucked away in a small room on the second floor, Jupiter, Neptune And Pluto (pictured) is the only ceiling painting by Caravaggio
Rita said the tours were necessary to raise money to maintain the villa.
One of the heirs, Prince Bante Boncompagni Ludovisi, was on hand Thursday at the villa to watch ‘that woman,’ as he refers to his father’s widow, leave the property.
He said: ‘This house needs renovations. The pipelines of water need to be restored and the frescoes are in danger.
‘This is a country: We have our police, we have our judges and you need to respect our country and our laws if you stay here.’
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