Chapter 20: Italy & Switzerland

While I was at Hever Castle, Gavin had called an old friend. He told her of my Taking Control of a couple Estates like hers. 1st of course, was his very own Hever Castle, but also, an Estate in Palm Beach, FL. He thought there might be others too.

He went into detail about how my Lawyers in NYC had Created Custom, Perpetual Trusts for each Property. Within minutes she was sold.

Later that day, Gavin told me of a good friend that had grown up on a Villa in the South of Italy. She was 85yo & no longer lived at the Villa. It & it’s Gardens needed constant care, which she no longer could manage.

Gavin said I should consider Buying her place. To sweeten the pot, he knew a friend who ran a great Classic Car Dealership. They had just gotten a great deal on a 1936 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Spider. That was the car that had won the 1938 Mille Miglia Car Race which was important at the time. It was so important, Alfa Romeo used MM in the Names of their best Race Cars, to honor the 1938 Mille Miglia win.

Gavin especially liked the Alfa, because it was Black, with a Red Leather Interior, just like his Fleet of Cars at Hever Castle. He bought the Alfa for me, saying it should remain at the Italian Villa he wanted me to buy. It would be a great start on gathering my own Fleet in Italy.

Mon, Dec 22, 1969

Gavin dropped Ali & I off at Gatwick A/P, where we took British European Airways (BEA) to NAP A/P, in Napoli. Gatwick was just West of Hever Castle, so it was easy to get to. For the rest of our European Trip, Ali & I decided we didn’t need our Bikes. They were hassles with Sports Cars. It was Winter, anyway.

It was almost a 3 hour flight to NAP A/P in Napoli. We were met there by Giuseppe Cannavale, owner of Napoli Classico. He met us in a 1961 Alfa Romeo Autotutto. It was tiny, the 1st Minivan! It was in great shape though & really Popped, as it was Bright Red, with Alfa Romeo in big white script, on each side.

Giuseppe spoke good English, as he had attended Oxford with Gavin Astor. They had been friends ever since. Giuseppe had helped Gavin expand his Fleet of Cars, all Black, with Red Leather Interiors. That’s why Giuseppe had thought of Gavin, when he bought the 1936 Alfa. It was beautifully maintained, being 100% Original. It had always been kept in a Humidly Controlled Garage. Giuseppe had bought it from the Original Owner’s Estate.

Giuseppe drove like the typical Italian, with maybe just a tad of restraint. Most Italians play a game of Chicken constantly. I think I’ll create Bumper Cars that are Street Legal.

At Giuseppe’s Shop, he showed us the Alfa 8C. Wow, such beautiful Lines, but it was totally open. No worries, as Napoli & the Amalfi Coast were nice. Even in December, it was in the 70’s, very mild.

Giuseppe just handed us the Keys & Paperwork. He said it was a gift from Gavin. I think it was a great deal from Giuseppe too.

Ali & I didn’t dawdle, as we wanted to spend the night at the Villa we had been told about. We were going to Ravello, Sorento, Amalfi Coast, IT. With stops, it would take us just under 3 Hours.

We had Maps & detailed directions from Giuseppe. We took the Main Road that paralleled the Med.

We 1st took A1, then we went South on E45. We stayed on E45 for an Hour. While we were on E45, we were skirting Mt Vesuvius to our East. At Torre Annunziata, E45 turned East, passing by Pompeii. so we went South on SS145. Cool, ancient History, eh?.

We turned onto SS145, which circled the Amalfi Peninsula. It was drop dead gorgeous, with amazing views, many alongside Cliffs w/o Guardrails.

It was taking me awhile to remember to Drive on the Right Side of the Road again though. I had driven enough in England, to have gotten somewhat comfortable Driving on the Left. More than once in Italy, Ali reminded me at the last second to move over. It was also a little confusing, as the Alfa had RHD. Back in the Early Days of Cars, you could put the Steering on either side, I guess.

But back to my Story.

Villa Cimbrone was bought in 1904 from the Amici Family, by an Englishman named Ernest William Beckett. Like William Waldorf Astor did with Hever Castle, Beckett took an abandoned Ruin, some parts dating back to 1100 A.D., then transformed it into a funky mishmash of styles. He scoured Europe for other Ruins, bringing back whole Rooms & even Buildings. There are 2 Towers, 1 Round, 1 Square. There are numerous Statutes & Yard Art throughout the Villa too. The Views are tremendous. There is too much info to share now, just Google it folks.

Beckett also brought in famous Landscape Artists, who Restored & expanded Cimbrone’s Gardens. Some of the Gardens date back hundreds of years, especially some of the Roses. I especially loved his Trellis’ of Wisteria & other Vines, that stretched for 100’s of feet.

Beckett died in 1917, at 60yo. His daughter inherited the Villa. Lucille Catherine Beckett, was 85yo in 1969, & still full of life. She went by L.C., & had last lived at the Villa in 1962. It had been an afterthought since, as it took a small fortune to maintain it.

Since Gavin had called her, L.C had come to the conclusion that I was the perfect person to pass Cimbrone on to. She loved the fact that I wanted it to be part of my group of Historic Properties of the World. They would be open to all my PTR & T-SqFilm&TV Partners.

L.C. Beckett was well known in her own right. She mixed Quantum Physics & Eastern Mysticism & Philosophy. She also believed in Miracles. That was in the 1920’s & 1930’s, she was an amazing lady.

Wow, sounds like she might like the URANTIA Book, which talks about the same things. There is no conflict between Science & Religion, as long as Man-Made BS isn’t involved. I’d give her a Copy of the U-Book.

L.C. was married to Count Otto Czernin von und zu Chudenitz, the Austro-Hungarian Minister to Bulgaria, from 1903-1920. They had 4 Sons. What a name, eh?

Over the years, L.C. had hosted at the Villa: Greta Garbo, the Duke & Duchess of Windsor, Virginia Woolf, D.H. Laurence, T.S. Eliot & Winston Churchill. Some of the Top Thinkers of the time.

We walked all over the Villa, 1st along the Mediterranean Sea side.

We ended up at the narrowest point of Villa Cimbrone, which has Cliffs on 3 of its 4 sides. It stands on a rocky outcrop known as “Cimbronium,” thus its name.

The best part of the Estate, has been written about for hundreds of years. It is the scenic belvedere, the Terrazza dell’Infinito (Terrace of Infinity)

In 1861, Ferdinand Gregorovius wrote:

While contemplating from those Armida’s orchards, among the roses and the hydrangeas, that magic sea in which the blue colour of a very limpid sky is reflected, the wish of being able to fly comes out ... Right at the edge of the crag there was a terrace commanding an enchanting view; it was surrounded by horrible marble statues which, however, from afar, had a sort of appeal.

L.C. & I officially did the Transfer of Villa Cimbrone while sitting on the Terrazza dell’Infinito. As at Hever Castle, I only paid a Token price, 1 Italian Lira. Once again I was given a huge responsibility, one I gladly took on.

In about 1 Months time, I had big plans for the Villa. Stay tuned.

L.C. was so much fun, I took a chance & slipped her one of my Doozies. She was also drinking some local Vintage too.

As she relaxed, she told me she had been Mrs Robinson once to a young 18yo boy. She was referencing the 1967 Film, The Graduate, starring a young Dustin Hoffman. He was seduced by one of his Parent’s friends, a much older woman, Mrs Robinson.

In 1939, L.C. was 55yo & in Roma, trying to escape to Switzerland before WW2 started. An 18yo Young Man helped her, with them having a torrid affair for 3 weeks. She taught him all she knew, & she had bedded Rudolph Valentino.

L.C. told me that story after seeing the wonderful 1936 Alfa Romeo 8C. She said her great friend & Lover had to see it. He worked out of Turin, up in the top of Italy. I responded with, “Of course, I’d be glad to show off the Alfa to your friend. We’re headed that way, anyway.”

When she said her old Lover was Gianni Agnelli, I spit out my drink. Yep, she had been Giovanni “Gianni” Agnelli’s 1st. They had continued to get together over the years.

Gianni was the CEO of Fiat in 1969, which his Family controlled. L.C. said that by Running Fiat, Gianni controlled 4.4% of Italy’s GDP & 3.1% of all the Italian Industrial Workforce. He also performed 16.5% of all R&D in Italy. He was probably the Most Powerful Man in Italy at the time.

We were on the Terrace, where there was a small Round Outcropping, with a Low Wrought Iron Fence. As we leaned over the Railing, L.C. pointed down to a small Villa, hugging the Cliff directly under us. The Villa was pure White & was called, La Rondinaia. That means “Swallows Nest.”

L.C. had built it for herself, around 1930. She had lived there when in Revelo, letting others use the main Villa above.

Wow, as Ralf, I knew Gore Vidal & his Partner, Howard Austin would buy La Rondinaia from L.C. in 1972, adding the Pool in 1985. The Pool also hugged the Cliff, but further along it. Gore would write his Historical Novel, Lincoln, there.

Gore hosted a who’s who, at La Rondinaia: Tennessee Williams, Greta Garbo, Princess Margaret, Paul Newman, Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen & Hilary Clinton.

Gore Vidal put La Rondinaia up for sale in 2004, for €14,000,000.

Nope, not with me as Pug. I would offer La Rondinaia free to Gore Vidal to use, but La Rondinaia deserved to remain a part of Villa Cimbrone.

That night, L.C. put Ali & I up in La Rondinaia’s Guest Room. We almost had to force her to use her old Master Suite for herself. We told her the Guest Room had a better view anyway, with its Balcony hanging off into space.

Tue, Dec 23, 1969

L.C. had to go, as she had other commitments. She would live another 10 years, passing on in 1979 at 95yo. We would host her often at Villa Cimbrone, with her enjoying the rebirth of her heritage, with her always staying at La Rondinaia.

Ali & I were given directions to Fiat’s World HQ in Turin, IT. It was almost a 7 Hour Drive, so we put the top up, & were on the Road by 7am. I wish we had left the Alfa at Cimbrone, but L.C. wanted Gianni to see it. She said he would want to display it, so she was sure he would loan us a nice replacement while he played with our Alfa.

Actually, we were 1st stopping at a small village south of Modena, IT. It was Maranello, Ferrari’s HQ. Next to it, Enzo had built his own personal Test Track for Ferrari. We were told to meet Gianni there.

We traveled on some of the same Roads used for the Mille Miglia Race, which Started up in the Northern Italian Alps. The Race then traveled South through Italy, to Roma, & back. It was in a Figure-8 shape, using different Roads going back North. Our Alfa won the Mille Miglia in 1938, so we enjoyed reliving part of it in 1969. The Mille Miglia Race was right at 1,000 miles & took 21 Hours to complete in 1938. Each Car had 2 Drivers, who took turns Driving.

Ali & I were staying awake by using my own 5-Hour concoction of Sativa THC, Caffeine & B-12.

We went West at the Town of Bologna, where we stopped to have a Slice of the best Bologna we ever ate, nothing like the shit we eat in America.

It was 4:30pm when we arrived at Ferrari’s HQ in Maranello. We were beat, but we had made a commitment, so we went up to a large open Door. Inside were a collection of Ferrari’s that was amazing.

Before I could get out of the car, as it was a tight fit, an older guy held Ali’s door open for her. At the same time, the man started asking questions about the 8C, in broken English. I couldn’t tell him much, but then remembering the Paperwork Packet in the Trunk, I handed it to him. He took it, pouring over it, casually saying, “Ciao, I’m Enzo.”

Well, I guess I just met Enzo Ferrari. He was 71yo in 1969, & would live until 1988.

Another guy introduced himself, saying, “Enzo doesn’t think of anyone but himself. I’m Gianni Agnelli, L.C.s, ‘em, friend. I’m equally excited to see this car again. It was found in a Garage in Napoli, you say. It’s been missing for years. This is a rare find. Thank you for bringing it to us.”

“Well, this is a red letter day all around I guess, as Enzo just sold 50% of Ferrari to my Company, Fiat. He still gets to Run Ferrari Racing, as why would we stop him?”

“And now, to have the 1936 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Spider that won the 1938 Mille Miglia, it’s the perfect conclusion to the day. Alfa would put MM on their special cars after that, in honor of the 1938 win. Enzo started his career at Alfa, before he formed his own Company. My Company, Fiat owns Alfa Romeo now, so I’m just as excited to have the #1 Alfa here.”

It was late, so Ali & I were invited to Enzo’s home for Dinner & the Night. Before we left, Enzo tossed me the Keys to a Red 1956 Mercedes Benz 300 SL Roadster. It had a Black Leather Interior. Even swap as far as I was concerned. We were headed to Switzerland & West Germany, so a Mercedes was better symbolism anyway.