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Outlook: The Texan princess and the priceless villa

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Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi outside Villa Aurora, Rome, Italy

02/03/2022 GMT

The Texan princess and the priceless villa

BBC World Service - Outlook, The Texan princess and the priceless villa

Rita Boncompagni's unexpected life led her from the US to an historic Italian home.

Rita Boncompagni's unexpected life led her from the US to an historic Italian home, where she became a princess with a mission.

Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi grew up on a Texas ranch, but ended up as an Italian princess. Along the way she reinvented herself many times. She was caught up in a scandal that took Washington by storm, posed for Playboy, worked with Donald Trump on a $900 million deal, and later became an actor. Her final act saw her falling in love and marrying an Italian prince, with whom she renovated one of Rome's most historic villas filled with priceless art and invaluable historical relics. She talks to Emily Webb about now having to say goodbye to her beloved Villa Aurora, one of the most expensive houses ever to be sold.

Steve Burnett makes violins in the classical  Italian tradition that have won praise from the likes of Nigel Kennedy and Maxim Vengerov. Passionate about history and the environment, Steve has previously made violins in honour of Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Arthur Conan Doyle. He tells Antonia Quirke about his most recent project, a violin for the centenary of explorer Ernest Shackleton, made from the floorboards of Shackleton's Edinburgh home. You can read more about Steve's work at burnettviolins.co.uk

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

(Image: Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi outside Villa Aurora, Rome, Italy
Credit: Remo Casilli/Reuters)

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