Italy’s US ambassador resides far from Rome on his Megayacht

If you respond to the Romans to the Villa Taverna, after more than seventy years, they are still annoyed that they have lost one of the most magnificent villas to the Americans. Because the last-appropriate hostel, Princess Ida Borromeo-Taverna, sold the property and inventory from immeasurable art treasures, ceiling frescoes and lush gardens in 1948 to the U.S. government at the time. Since then, 18 ambassadors from the USA have resided in the Palazzo. But the new envoy of the Trump government spurned the embassy seat, from the loggia of which is said to have the most beautiful view over the eternal city. Instead, Tilman Ferttitta prefers to live almost 100 kilometers outside the capital on his private superyacht in the port of Civitavecchia – that in turn annoys the Romans no less.

Ambassador Ferttitta states to be justified that he feels disturbed by the ongoing restoration work in Villa Taverna. Incidentally, the dense traffic in Rome is an imposition for the Texan. Therefore, employees of the multi -illiarche had to sail the 77 meter long “Boardwalk” from Washington DC via the ocean to Italy. Now the unusual seat for an ambassador in front of Sant’agostino beach, which is popular with the Romans, is in front of Anker. Onlookers and residents from Civitavecchia make a pilgrimage to the $ 150,000 yacht, which leaves nothing to be desired: helicopter landing site, pool, spa area, scooter to explore the area on land, wine cellar and seven cabins for 14 guests.

No problem coming to Rome for Ferttitta: his helicopter is always ready to bring him to his appointments. The stately 68-year-old with reddish hair then ends up at the City Airport Roma-Urbe on Via Salaria-a landing directly on the ambassador site is impossible, a corresponding application has been rejected. Only the Pope and the Italian head of state have a overflight approval of Rome. So he has to be escorted through the traffic of Rome to Villa Taverna in the famous via Veneto.

Whenever it is possible, however, the ambassador prefers to drive directly across the sea. It was only in June he traveled to a commemorative service in the monumental cemetery near Nettuno south of Rome, on which 7860 US soldiers who had fallen in Sicily, Salerno, Anzio and Nettuno between 1943 and 1944. He continued the arrival of Hafen of Anzio to the soldier’s cemetery with the helicopter, which meant quite a few complications for security both for water and on land.

But what does the Trump friend and long-time sponsor of the Republicans care with an estimated assets of eleven billion dollars? He is used to being the boss. His possession includes hotels, the Laundry’s restaurant chain, play casinos, amusement parks and the NBA basketball team Houston Rockets: an empire with 50,000 employees. Ferttitta occupies 260 of the world’s richest entrepreneurs at “Forbes”. Before he slipped into the role of the diplomat, he was in front of the camera as the star of the reality show “Billion Dollar Buyer” on CNBC. The man with Sicilian roots embodies the American dream. As a boy, he was once in the kitchen in his father’s restaurant and peeled tons of shrimp with bare hands.

The new US ambassador is casual to the government of Giorgia Meloni. In his speech on the occasion of the celebrations on the American Independence Day on July 4, he briefly made the Prime Minister blushing when he praised her exuberantly as “luck for Italy”. With Vice Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini you could see him on the same event. “This man will tackle things,” said Fertitta appreciatively with a view to Salvini’s insane bridge project between Sicily and the mainland.

But he couldn’t conquer the Romans. On the contrary, they are annoyed by the new US ambassador for whom so much effort is made. The airspace above its yacht is under permanent observation – by ships from the financial police, the state police, secret services and the port authority. The strange place of residence of Ambassador Ferttita is now another place that is added to the 4000 “sensitive objects” in Rome, which the Italian state has to pay for.