Galery

1

The news that the luxury home on Rhodes built for the Italian dictator Mussolini to live in during his old age is on the market has raised, among other things, high interest in the Italian businessmen involved in tourism.

Built on the hill Profitis Ilias, Villa de Vecchi has not been used for decades, and as a result, time and neglect have left their marks on this historic building which is included in the properties-for-sale list of the Privatization Agency. Many Italian businessmen believe that Villa Mussolini could be turned into an attractive destination for thousands of tourists both, from Italy and from other countries. Some even speak of a second Achilleion - the former summer palace of the German Emperor Wilhelm II located on Corfu and also designed by Italian architects - Raffaele Carito and Antonio Landi.

Every year many people travel to Corfu to see one of the most significant royal palaces in Europe. According to information, the abandoned building on Rhodes could become part of an ambitious tourism programme about the Italian influence on the Dodecanese islands during the Italian occupation.

Economic analysts believe that by September 5^th, there will be development on the issue of competition. Villa de Vecchi, where Mussolini was never able to live, is included in a group of 14 properties which will be offered under a concession agreement for a period of 50 years. Pursuant to the terms of the competition, the winner will have to create small boutique hotels.

The villa in which no one has ever lived

Villa de Vecchi is named after the Italian governor of the Dodecanese islands, Count Cesare Maria de Vecchi, who tried to keep the goodwill of the Italian dictator.

The construction of a luxurious building in the woods, with the elegance of Italian architecture and with a surprising view, would provide pleasure to Il Duce, who could use it as a summer home. At the same time, owing to its location, it could easily be guarded because it allowed for a panoramic observation of the surroundings. The villa is located 800 metres above sea level on the hill of Profitis Ilias and is 40-45 minutes away from the airport of Rhodes.

"This is a historic two-storey building with a total area of ​​757 square metres of unique architectural value. It is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, with a unique view" is written on the website of the Privatization Agency.

Villa Mussolini is located in an area of ​​8,100 square metres and since the time of the Italian retreat it has not been used by anyone.

Falling apart and ransacked, Mussolini’s potential summer villa is left to its fate. Broken windows, walls painted with graffiti, rooms full of rubbish - this is how the abandoned building looks.

There are other smaller ancillary buildings on the same site, including a chapel. The villa was home to Count de Vecchi and was used for a short period as a summer residence for the Italian king Victor Emmanuel III.