- Barron's reports that fashion designer Donatella Versace just purchased a villa that overlooks Lake Maggiore in northern Italy.
- The lavish home has a rich history and was previously owned by Italian publisher Arnoldo Mondadori, who frequently invited famous writers like Thomas Mann and Ernest Hemingway to stay at the villa.
- The 64-year-old designer purchased the villa for approximately €5 million (roughly $5.6 million), according to brokerage firm Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Donatella Versace has added another home to her real estate portfolio.
The 64-year-old fashion designer bought a villa previously owned by famed Italian publisher Arnoldo Mondadori. The villa was initially listed with brokerage firm Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore, though the sale was made without their mediation, according to a press release provided by the company. Versace purchased the luxurious home (which was last asking €4.8 million, according to Mansion Global) for around €5 million (or approximately $5.6 million).
The mansion, known as Villa Mondadori, is located in Meina, a small coastal town in northern Italy that overlooks Lake Maggiore. Much like Lake Como, Maggiore is considered a hotspot for wealthy international buyers.
Read on to learn more about the estate and its history — including the famous guests who have stayed in its 20 bedrooms — and to take a closer look at the property.
Villa Mondadori is one of the most famous homes on Lake Maggiore, which borders Italy's Lombardy and Piemonte regions.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore, TripSavvy
The long and narrow lake, located to the south of the Alps, is Italy's second-largest lake and also borders Switzerland. Milan is Maggiore's nearest major Italian city, with Malpensa Airport located only 12 miles south of it.
Source: TripSavvy
Many towns touch the shore of the roughly 40-mile long lake. Villa Mondadori, in particular, is located in the town of Meina.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore, TripSavvy
Donatella Versace recently bought the lakefront home for about €5 million (or around $5.6 million).
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
The 1,400 square meter (about 15,000 square feet) villa, initially listed by Engel & Völkers, has four floors.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
Across the four floors, there is a total of 50 rooms. That includes 20 bedrooms ...
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
... and 12 bathrooms.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
The villa directly overlooks the lake.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
Many of the estate's rooms have clear views of the lake and mountains just outside their windows.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
As if the natural landscape isn't enough, the home also features a swimming pool and a garden.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
The mansion was previously owned by Arnoldo Mondadori, an Italian publisher. The Mondadori family bought the villa in the 1920s.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
In Mondadori's day, the pink stucco mansion housed a number of famous guests.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
This includes Walt Disney, who in 1935 signed a deal with the publisher for a children's series based on Disney's characters.
Source: Gruppo Mondadori
Some of the most renowned writers of the 20th century also stayed in Mondadori's many bedrooms, including Thomas Mann and Ernest Hemingway.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
While his famous guests were visiting, Mondadori would have them sign their names on a fireplace.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
That original fireplace — signatures and all — is still intact.
Source: Engel & Völkers Lago Maggiore
After Mondadori lived there and before Versace purchased it, the property functioned as a bed and breakfast for those visiting the Alps.
Source: Barron's
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