Texan-turned-Italian princess evicted from villa with original Caravaggio in Rome

An art dealer who purchased the Villa Giulia for €17.5 million is determined to sell it for as much as he can, and he has taken drastic action to speed up the process. He has evicted the 44-year-old American expat who lived there with her two sons. They are now homeless, and the authorities have opened an investigation into the matter. The dealer has reportedly requested €600,000 in exchange for the rights to the artwork in the estate. The expat is likely to fight the eviction in court, since she claims the villa is her home. She has already begun searching for a new place to live in Rome, even though she does not have to officially leave the country until the legal proceedings are settled.

Why Is the Villa Giulia Important?

The Villa Giulia was the second villa constructed in the shape of a boat on the Via Veneto. It was designed by the 17th-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio and is situated in the center of the city. Because it is located in a residential area that neighbors consider to be a part of their community, the expat's presence there became a source of tension. She began to complain about noise levels and safety issues, and since she is not the first American to own a villa in this part of Rome, their concerns were not unfounded. The estate has been targeted by vandals in the past, and although the expat took precautions to secure the villa, she could not prevent occasional break-ins. The expat's two sons were both victims of bike thieves who managed to get away with their expensive vehicles; in the most recent incident, the thieves made off with a valuable vintage car that was parked in the portico.

What Did the Princess Do?

The Princess, an American citizen who recently obtained Italian nationality, began spending more time in Italy after her father, the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2015. Although the condition nearly took his life, it only served to accelerate her journey toward adulthood. She took a keen interest in cultural matters and became familiar with the works of early Renaissance masters, in particular, the Italian painter Caravaggio. She spent about a year traveling throughout Europe and the Mediterranean in search of the perfect piece to suit her needs. On her return to Italy, the Princess purchased a $21.5 million villa in Marino, a beautiful city on the coast of Tuscany. The property had been on the market for some time and was initially offered to the Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. However, the offer was declined, and the house remained unsold for several months. In the meantime, the Princess rented a villa on the outskirts of Rome, the Villa Giulia, and she has made it her home. This is where her story begins.

The Expat's Tale

In her daily newspaper column for the Washington Post, Anna Nordhaus details the story of the American expat who has found herself in a pickle in Italy. The 47-year-old journalist and author, who was recently named Berlin Correspondent for the Washington Post, first encountered the story of the American expat who purchased the Villa Giulia when a piece written by her made international news in December of last year. She was instantly drawn to the story and began investigating its development. What she discovered was quite shocking: a 47-year-old single mother with two young sons had bought a $21.5 million villa in Italy, without a penny to her name. This was completely against social norms in Italian society, and especially so for a woman. It was also a complete shock that the expat had no intention of staying in Italy, but rather of selling the villa and heading back to her native land. This did not sit well with the locals, and she soon found herself embroiled in a battle for custody of her two children, aged 6 and 10 at the time of her eviction.

In the weeks and days leading up to the eviction, the Princess wrote numerous letters to the Post, vehemently denying the reports and insisting that she had every intention of remaining in Italy. She was particularly concerned that an unauthorised biography of her, written by a Roman reporter, might be published and become the source of considerable embarrassment to her. The local authorities, however, had no intention of backing down, and they began proceedings to legally evict the American expat.

The Perfect Piece

The reporter from the Post spoke to Italian authorities, who confirmed that the identity of the expat had been confirmed and her passport found at the villa. They were also able to shed light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the purchase of the property. It seems that the Princess did not exactly disclose all of her assets to the notary who handled the legal paperwork, and a shortfall of €600,000 was reportedly discovered. The authorities also claim that the villa was originally purchased for €350,000, but the Princess claims to have paid a discounted price of €17.5 million for the villa, which is almost double its worth.

The notary was quick to defend the actions of his client, and he vehemently denied the allegations of fraud, as did the Princess in her letters to the Post. There are, as yet, no further details available on the investigation into the matter. However, the reporter for the Post, Anna Nordhaus, also obtained documents which confirm that the Princess had purchased a vintage 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider with matching red leather interior, as well as a vintage 1960s Maserati A6GCS. The documents further revealed that the expat had purchased a one-of-a-kind Picasso sculpture in the shape of a guitar, which had been on display in the lobby of the Palazzo Patrizi-Scaramouche in Genoa for almost a century. This led to the speculation that the expats had either stolen or bought the piece in secret, and it is now on display in the villa's entranceway, proudly bearing the name of the famous Florentine Scaramouche, who had been the model for the piece. The one-of-a-kind guitar was stolen from the collection of the Galleria Nazionale, in Parma, in the early morning of December 10, and its whereabouts remain unknown.

The Perfect Place To Make A Beeline For Europes Best Museums

The perfect place for a cultural enthusiast such as the Princess is a villa. It is, therefore, no coincidence that she has made the decision to purchase a property in Italy, one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. The perfect villa for an expat in Rome would be a magnificent piece of real estate near the Spanish Steps. Only a few minutes' walk from Piazza Trinità dei Monti will take you to Piazza Spagna, one of the most photographed squares in the world. It is a hubbub of activity that is both captivating and inspiring, with its elegant pavement cafes and extravagant fountains. Piazza Trinità dei Monti would make for a perfect, exclusive entryway, while the villa's proximity to Piazza Spagna would ensure that she visits the square often, attracting admiring glances from other cultural enthusiasts. The perfect place for an untroubled couple to recuperate and for a father to take a well-deserved vacation would be the Siena Centre hotel, only a stone's throw away from the Duomo, one of the most magnificent churches in the world. Its magnificence dates from the early 13th century and the architectural features alone will inspire any visitor. The hotel's private chapel is also a masterpiece, designed by the Renaissance masters and boasting a magnificent ceiling fresco by Pintoricchio, a famous painter from the region.

The perfect choice for a villa, then, is one that is close to the best museums in Rome, as well as to major cultural sights. The Villa Giulia is only a 15-minute drive from the the National Gallery, which holds the greatest collection of Italian Renaissance art in the world. The road, though, leads directly to Piazza Trinità dei Monti, and it is a must for any art enthusiast to have the opportunity to view the greatest Renaissance masters' work. The Villa will also be a stone's throw away from the spectacular Trevi Fountain, the perfect place for a refreshing drink before heading to the Spanish Steps for some sightseeing or for a coffeehouse to work off those museum calories.