Casino dell'Aurora auction fails for fifth time as price drops to €145 million

The Casino dell'Aurora, a historic Roman villa housing the only known Caravaggio mural, has failed to sell for the fifth time in an auction that concluded on January 12, 2023. The property, located on Via Lombardia, was once part of the Villa Ludovisi estate. Its price has been reduced to €145 million, yet no buyers have emerged. The building contains frescoes by Caravaggio (1597), Guercino (1621), Agostino Tassi, and Paul Bril. Initially valued at €471 million by professor Alessandro Zuccari in 2021, the auction was ordered by the Tribunal of Rome following disputes among heirs of Prince Nicolò Boncompagni-Ludovisi. Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi has criticized the court's decision to hold auctions on the specialized website Fallco Aste. Calls for state intervention have grown, with undersecretary of culture Lucia Borgonzoni urging Palazzo Chigi and the Ministry of Economy to act jointly with MiC. However, the state can only exercise pre-emption rights within 60 days of an actual sale. The next auction is scheduled for April 6, with the price unchanged at €145 million. Meanwhile, a recital by violinist Midori is planned for May 26, featuring a lecture by Vittorio Sgarbi comparing Bach and Caravaggio. Princess Rita Carpenter, who faces an eviction order for neglect, has called it "the last private event at the Casino." Sgarbi stated that if the property sells at market value (€30-40 million), the state will exercise pre-emption.