1 00:00:01,280 --> 00:00:04,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to Stuff You Missed in History Class, a production 2 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: of iHeartRadio. Hello, and welcome to the podcast. I'm Holly 3 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,080 Speaker 1: Frye and I'm Tracy V. Wilson. So I wanted to 4 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: do an episode on a haunted place, and so I 5 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: just started kind of trawling the internet for lists of 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: supposedly haunted places, and one of them came up over 7 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: and over and photos of it are so beautiful and 8 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:35,560 Speaker 1: super intriguing. Spoiler alert. I think I don't believe in 9 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: haunted places very much these days. We'll talk about. Today's 10 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: topic is an abandoned mansion which has some very colorful nicknames. 11 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: It's called the Red House, the Witch's House, or even 12 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 1: the ghost House. But it was once a gorgeous and 13 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: very luxurious mansion designed for a prominent citizen of northern Italy, 14 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: and it's often described as haunted and having this dark history. 15 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's you know, like the brutal murder House. I 16 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: have good news if that makes you feel squeamish. There 17 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: are some interesting contradictions regarding that story. So this episode 18 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 1: is definitely going to make our skeptics happy. But wait, 19 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: you get a little bit of a twofur and we'll 20 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:24,839 Speaker 1: explain why at the end. The last segment is about 21 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 1: a related topic, So the municipality of courtin Nova in 22 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,000 Speaker 1: northern Italy. So it's about thirty seven miles or sixty 23 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:41,120 Speaker 1: kilometers north of Milan. It's about seven point two miles 24 00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 1: or eleven point six kilometers southeast of Milano, on the 25 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: eastern shore of Lake Como. This is an absolutely beautiful 26 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: area of the country. It's lush with forests, but it 27 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,160 Speaker 1: is also home to a structure that is sometimes called 28 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: the most haunted home in all of Italy, that is Villadeveki. 29 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: So to talk about Villadeveki, we'll set the scene with 30 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: the original owner, Felichia Deveki, who is also called Felix, 31 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: which is what we'll call him by. But this particular 32 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: piece of the episode gets a big fat caveat because 33 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: there is not a ton of information about Felix de 34 00:02:19,560 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 1: Veki available. The only resource that I could find initially 35 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: that gave any of his biographical information was the Italian 36 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: Wikipedia page for him. Normally we would never use Wikipedia, 37 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: and there is a little more flexibility with a Halloween episode, 38 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:39,000 Speaker 1: but even so, not usually a place we would go to. However, 39 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 1: I did pull his birth date from there. It did 40 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: later get verified by something else, but he was born 41 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: on February twelfth, eighteen sixteen. And there's some more information 42 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 1: we're going to talk about later from that Wikipedia page 43 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: that I think is important telling his story. But de 44 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:57,639 Speaker 1: Veki was an artist. He was born into a wealthy family, 45 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: but he also became a created hero in the Italian 46 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 1: National Guard. In his late twenties, de Veki was living 47 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: in an Italy that was not yet unified, and he 48 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 1: went on a long trip starting in eighteen forty one 49 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: that took him through Turkya, Persia, India and Egypt. This 50 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:22,119 Speaker 1: journey was one that left a significant impression on Deveki, 51 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: who was deeply interested in learning about the cultures of 52 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: the places he visited. Several years after this trip, in 53 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: eighteen forty four, Count de Veki married a woman named 54 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: Carolina Franketti du Ponti. The two of them went on 55 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: a long trip for their honeymoon. They traveled around to 56 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: various locations throughout Italy, some of which Felix later captured 57 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: in landscape paintings. We don't have a ton of painting 58 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: examples of his, but there are some that have been 59 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: attributed to him, and he tends to faint in the 60 00:03:53,840 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: very dark sort of moody way. But de Veki's most 61 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: famous achievement militarily was part of what's known as the 62 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: Chinkue Giornate di Milano or Five Days of Milan. So 63 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 1: the city of Milan, of course, has its own rich history, 64 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: dating back to four hundred BCE. Over the centuries, it 65 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: became a center of power as its financial and political 66 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: influence grew and became really cemented. There had often been 67 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 1: conflicts over Milan as various European powers sought to control it, 68 00:04:26,960 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 1: but that only intensified from the Middle Ages on. From 69 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 1: the end of the fifteenth century to the military action 70 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: in eighteen forty eight that made de Veki's reputation, Milan 71 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:44,680 Speaker 1: was ruled by in order, France, Switzerland, Spain, France, Spain, Austria, France, Austria, 72 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: France and Austria again starting in eighteen fifteen. From eighteen 73 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: fifteen to eighteen forty eight, Austria controlled the city and 74 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,919 Speaker 1: made it the capital of the Lombardy region. But on 75 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,799 Speaker 1: March eighteenth, eighteen forty eight, the people of Milan rebelled 76 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: against the Austrian forces stationed there, and after five days 77 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 1: of fighting, the Austrians left. Milan was still legally part 78 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: of Austria for another eleven years, but the men who 79 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: had led the fighting were lauded as Italian heroes, and 80 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: Felix de Vechi had been among them. He was well educated, 81 00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 1: well traveled, and seemed to be a man whose life 82 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: was on track for success. In the eighteen fifties, Felix 83 00:05:27,240 --> 00:05:30,719 Speaker 1: de Veki acquired a thirteen hectar that's roughly twenty acre 84 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: tract of land in Cortanova, and he envisioned a vacation 85 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: home for his family there. I read one account that 86 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: said that he had visited the area and was so 87 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: struck it's right there, like we said, forested and by 88 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: the mountains that he just knew he wanted to spend 89 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 1: time there because of his travels in his earlier years, 90 00:05:48,400 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 1: he had seen a lot of architecture from different cultures, 91 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: and he wanted something unique that would incorporate classical Eastern architecture, 92 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: borrowing motifs from the various styles he had seen, but 93 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 1: particularly the ones he had seen in India, and to 94 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 1: design this home, he hired a prominent architect by the 95 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 1: name of Alessandro Sidoli. Alessandro Sidoli was born in Cremona, Italy, 96 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: on July thirtieth, eighteen twelve. His family was not wealthy, 97 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,360 Speaker 1: but Alessandro was an artistic child and his father encouraged 98 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 1: him to pursue art. He eventually attended architecture school in 99 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: Cremona and he learned technical drawing and then went to 100 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: design school. Next, he moved on to advanced architecture education 101 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:36,680 Speaker 1: in Milan, where he attended the Brera Art Academy, and 102 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: he had distinguished himself. He earned a number of prizes 103 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: during this phase of his education. He was admitted as 104 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: a member to the Milan Academy of Fine Arts in 105 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:51,280 Speaker 1: eighteen forty seven. In between design commissions, Alessandro started teaching 106 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: drawing lessons. By the eighteen fifties, when Deveki reached out 107 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,760 Speaker 1: about this villa project, Sidoli had become well known and 108 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: highly respected for a lot of luxurious building projects in Italy. 109 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:09,039 Speaker 1: The home that Alessandro Sidoli designed for de Veki is 110 00:07:09,160 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: a marvel of Neo Gothic opulence that borrows as requested 111 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: from multiple design styles, including Eastern Classical, but it does 112 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: so in a way that harmonizes all of them into 113 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 1: one cohesive style. It is designed specifically for its mountain setting, 114 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: and it almost blends into that setting despite being obviously 115 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: a fancy home, and part of that is because local 116 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: stone was used in its construction. The mansion features an 117 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: exterior that's defined by its pointed towers, arches, buttresses, and 118 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 1: rose windows. The towers, which rise up all around the 119 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: mansion's roof, were each designed with a specific view in 120 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 1: mind to take advantage of the home's elevated site, and 121 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: the surrounding area is beautiful, but it would have been 122 00:07:56,680 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: spectacular in the eighteen fifties when the home was built. 123 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: There was detailed landscaping and surrounding gardens, complete with a 124 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: pressurized fountain. They were designed to sort of extend the 125 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: design of the home. The exterior of the house was 126 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: painted red, and it still retains the nickname the Red House, 127 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: although today that paint has faded and more than half 128 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,200 Speaker 1: of it has shipped away. Yeah, there are series as 129 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: to why it was painted red, whether that was just 130 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: something that de Vicki really loved, or if it had 131 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: some meaning or borrow from something he saw on his travels. 132 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: But we don't know. The interior of the house was 133 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 1: designed to be just as thoughtful and intricate as the exterior. 134 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 1: It is a three story structure. It consists of a basement, 135 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:45,319 Speaker 1: a ground floor, and an upstairs floor. The basement was 136 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: a work area. The kitchen was down there, as well 137 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: as food storage and laundry areas, so basically the places 138 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 1: where the help would be on the ground level, where 139 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: all the areas where people would gather, including the dining 140 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,680 Speaker 1: room and the guest bedrooms, were also on the ground floor, 141 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: and the upper floor was where Deveki's bedrooms and family 142 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 1: private spaces were. Initially, this home was also planned to 143 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: have an observatory on the top floor, but that was 144 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,040 Speaker 1: never completed for a reason we are about to mention. 145 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: There are full wall frescoes and detailed would work. The 146 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: home was thoroughly modern for its time, with plumbing and heating. 147 00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,480 Speaker 1: Even the furniture was part of the grand design and 148 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 1: drew from the design education that Sidolei got as a 149 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: youngster and incorporated into his comprehensive rendering for the villa. 150 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: Construction began on the massive luxury project in eighteen fifty four, 151 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:45,760 Speaker 1: but very deep into the construction process, Alessandro Sidolei died suddenly. 152 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,559 Speaker 1: That left the team to continue building without his leadership. 153 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: This was when the observatory and some additional details were 154 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: omitted from the construction plan. Yeah, it had like another 155 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 1: year to go when he died. And once the villa 156 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: was completed, Felix de Veki and his family spent their 157 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:07,800 Speaker 1: summers at the Cortanova property, and then, after less than 158 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:12,959 Speaker 1: a decade in the house, unimaginable tragedy struck. Maybe we're 159 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: going to talk about what happened, what little we know, 160 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: and whether that is even true, after we pause for 161 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: a sponsor break. Okay. First, is the usual version of 162 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 1: the story regarding Villa Deeveki as it unfolds in most 163 00:10:35,280 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: places you will find online. In eighteen sixty two, Felix 164 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: de Veki was away from the villa at Cortanova on 165 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: a military action, but his wife and daughter were still there. 166 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 1: When the count returned to their vacation home after being away, 167 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:53,480 Speaker 1: the scene before him was anyone's worst nightmare. His wife 168 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: was dead, she had been murdered. His daughter was nowhere 169 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: to be found. In the way this story is told 170 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,840 Speaker 1: in English language sources, Devecki launched a year long investigation 171 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 1: before he reached a point of such despair that he 172 00:11:06,920 --> 00:11:10,839 Speaker 1: died by suicide. But this is another moment where I'm 173 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: invoking the Italian language Wikipedia page, because that story is 174 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,480 Speaker 1: very different, And to be clear, I am not fluent 175 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: in Italian, and I ran it through a translator and 176 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 1: had a friend look at it. While his story there 177 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: is sad, it is not at all the trauma that 178 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: has been attached to the story in the murder kidnapping version. 179 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: So in the version in his Wikipedia page, Felix's wife 180 00:11:32,800 --> 00:11:37,040 Speaker 1: actually died in eighteen fifty one of presumably natural causes, 181 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 1: before this house was ever built, leaving him with two 182 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: young children to raise alone, a son and a daughter 183 00:11:43,840 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: who were born in eighteen forty six. In eighteen fifty 184 00:11:47,679 --> 00:11:50,600 Speaker 1: Felix did not die by suicide. He died from liver 185 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: disease in Milan in eighteen sixty two. So it seems 186 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: that the main story that's used as the groundwork for 187 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: haunting claims that Viladeveci is not really true at all. So, 188 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: knowing that this murder story is apparently unsubstantiated, it turns 189 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: into a fun exercise to kind of hunt down the 190 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:15,559 Speaker 1: iterations of the murder of Devecki's wife, and we're specifically 191 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: not saying Carolina because she was already deceased at the 192 00:12:19,400 --> 00:12:22,240 Speaker 1: time this murder supposedly happened, and she was not a 193 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: murder victim. So with that out of the way, here 194 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:27,959 Speaker 1: are some of the wilder variations on the murder story. 195 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: One is that the murder was particularly grizzly and that 196 00:12:31,960 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 1: the wife's face was possibly disfigured during it. One of 197 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 1: Holly's favorites is that the disappeared daughter was the murderer. Also, 198 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 1: some of the murder lore ties back to Deveki's status 199 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: as a patriot and a liberation hero, So there's this 200 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:54,120 Speaker 1: suggestion that the murder and the kidnapping were politically motivated 201 00:12:54,679 --> 00:12:57,079 Speaker 1: and that they were part of a larger plot against 202 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: Deveki by his enemies and retribution for his various activities 203 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: on the part of the Italian National Guard. It does 204 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 1: seem that after Felix's death, which again seems to have 205 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:14,880 Speaker 1: been strictly from liver disease, his brother Biagio which is 206 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: sometimes spelled with Justino on the end and sometimes in Io, 207 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 1: assumed ownership of the villa and custody of the children, 208 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: but Biajo, who did not share his brother's artistic vision, 209 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: made a number of alterations to the home, which shifted 210 00:13:28,679 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 1: its style to have fewer design touches borrowed from Eastern design. 211 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: The mansion is largely just as it was built in 212 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 1: terms of its basic structure, although it has had a 213 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: significant amount of degradation and collapse, but it stayed in 214 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,680 Speaker 1: the de Vechi family, passing from Biago to his children 215 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: and so on for the next eighty years. By the 216 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: twentieth century, the house already had a reputation associated with 217 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 1: darkness and the occult, so much so that former po 218 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: podcast subject and well known occultist Alister Crowley visited and 219 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: stayed several nights at the villa. This would have been 220 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 1: during the time he was working on his book The 221 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: Diary of a Drug Fiend, which came out in nineteen 222 00:14:14,679 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 1: twenty two, because he was kicked out of Italy in 223 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: nineteen twenty three after one of his followers died in 224 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: Sicily under strange circumstances. Our Alister Crowley episode, which discusses 225 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: all of this, was published on October fourth of twenty 226 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 1: twenty one. And we just ran it as a Saturday classic. 227 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: Once Crowley became associated with the villa, the rumors about 228 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:41,840 Speaker 1: this property exploded, all of which were very much in 229 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 1: line with the kind of talk that often accompanies stories 230 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: of Crowley. It seemed as though an endless string of 231 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: unsubstantiated accusations and rumors began. The house was said to 232 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: be used by Devians for massive orgies. Some versions of 233 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 1: this story say that even after Crowley had been and 234 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,720 Speaker 1: booted from Italy, his followers would still go to the 235 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: villa and do this. Keep in mind, if you're thinking 236 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: of the timeline, Biago's descendants were still living there then, 237 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 1: so that doesn't seem very likely. Stories of murders on 238 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 1: the property started to circulate, as did claims that people 239 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: went to this property specifically to die by suicide throw 240 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: in some sacrifice stories. There are rumors that both humans 241 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:31,200 Speaker 1: and animals were sacrificed there, and Villa Deveki became the 242 00:15:31,240 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 1: most haunted house in Italy by reputation, if not by evidence. 243 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: In the years just before World War Two, the family 244 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: moved out. The villa was reportedly empty in nineteen thirty eight. 245 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: The details of why they moved are not clear. After 246 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: the war, the Deveki family did not return to the home. 247 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:55,600 Speaker 1: It changed owners several times over the next fifteen years, 248 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: although none of the subsequent owners ever lived. There's been 249 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: considered abandoned since nineteen sixty. Some sources indicated that the 250 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:08,360 Speaker 1: property went up for auction a number of times and 251 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: received no bids, but Holly could not substantiate that. It 252 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: reportedly even reached a point where it was made available 253 00:16:15,760 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: to any potential owner if the person receiving the property 254 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: would legally agree to restore it, but the estimated cost 255 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: of that restoration is so high that nobody ever took 256 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:32,480 Speaker 1: the offer. Additionally, the Italian Environment Fund has worked to 257 00:16:32,520 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: bring public awareness to the villa. Yeah, it's not clear, 258 00:16:36,200 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 1: and it's my fault because it's how I root it. 259 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: But that offer of like if you'll restore it was 260 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 1: literally like then you can have it for free, it's yours. Yeah, 261 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: similar to there are instances of places in Italy. There's 262 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,920 Speaker 1: always those things you'll see circulated of like you could 263 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: buy a house for five hundred dollars and it's like, yes, 264 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,680 Speaker 1: some of those exist, but you have to sign a 265 00:16:56,720 --> 00:16:59,600 Speaker 1: lot of paperwork that promises that you will restore it 266 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: and care of it. It requires five million euros of work. 267 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: Literally was I think the lowest estimate that I saw 268 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 1: for just getting this property to a point where it 269 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: was not going to be dangerous to people anymore with 270 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: six million dollars. And that's like bare bones, just fixing 271 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: the things that are about to fall, So nobody wanted 272 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: to do it. The home's twentieth century reputation as a 273 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: haunted place and Crowley's name specifically being connected to it, 274 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 1: has actually been the source of a lot of the 275 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: property's modern day problems. After Crowley's visit and even more 276 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,720 Speaker 1: so after World War Two when it was empty, the 277 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: site became a destination for people interested in the occults 278 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 1: or in Crowley specifically, and a lot of them broke 279 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,720 Speaker 1: into the mansion, and while they probably didn't have orgies 280 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 1: or sacrifice anything, they sure did vandalize it. And that 281 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:58,200 Speaker 1: vandalism got worse and worse as the early issues went unrepaired, 282 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: and then things kind of spi world to a point 283 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:04,640 Speaker 1: where literally, if you look at pictures, every interior wall 284 00:18:04,800 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: and many of the exterior surfaces have been spray painted 285 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 1: or just wilfully damaged the stories of ghost activity have persisted. 286 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: Locals claim that you can hear a piano playing in 287 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 1: the house every full moon. There is still a piano 288 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 1: in the house, although it has no legs and has collapsed. 289 00:18:26,560 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 1: It seems likely that the story of the piano playing 290 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: emerged after somebody trespassed in the abandoned house and saw it. 291 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:38,080 Speaker 1: There stories circulate in the area and among tourists drawn 292 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 1: to the property that Count de Veki is still there 293 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,000 Speaker 1: on the property, and there are claims that you can 294 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: hear a woman screaming tied to this murder story that 295 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:52,600 Speaker 1: doesn't have any hard evidence. In two thousand and two, 296 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,360 Speaker 1: an avalanche destroyed most of the neighboring homes, although Villa 297 00:18:56,400 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 1: Deveki sustained only minor damage, and this event only added 298 00:19:01,520 --> 00:19:04,199 Speaker 1: to its mystique as people started to say that the 299 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: house must have been spared due to some sort of 300 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: paranormal intervention. In twenty fifteen, there was a significant development 301 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 1: in Felix de Veki's story. He owned a manor house 302 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: in Row at the edge of Milan, and there his 303 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: travel diary from the early eighteen forties was found. This 304 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 1: was full of information about his travels. It was considered 305 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: a culturally significant find because it brought Deveki's inner thoughts 306 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:34,400 Speaker 1: into focus after a lot of this information about him 307 00:19:34,440 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: had faded from the historical record. Additionally, it reveals a 308 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: lot about life in pre unification Italy and why Deveki 309 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:47,880 Speaker 1: became so invested in his political stance of resistance against 310 00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:53,000 Speaker 1: countries that occupied Italian cities. He recognized the importance of 311 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 1: cultural identity in other countries and wanted to foster a 312 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 1: scenario where Italy could develop its own identity. The travel 313 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: journal became the inspiration and main feature of an exhibit 314 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: titled Caravan Journal the Rediscovered manuscript The Orient through the 315 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:14,719 Speaker 1: Eyes of a Forgotten Milanese Patriot Felis de Veki, which 316 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: ran in the Villa of Berba in Row in October 317 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,919 Speaker 1: of twenty fifteen. This exhibit was jointly sponsored by the 318 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, the Lombardy Region, the 319 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: Province of Milan and Expo twenty fifteen. In a twenty 320 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: eighteen interview with Atlas Obscura, a man named Joseppin Negri 321 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:38,600 Speaker 1: joked that he was the ghost of Villadeveki. He said, quote, 322 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 1: the reality is there are no ghosts. The ghost was me. 323 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: Villadeveki was our life, our family. My great grandfather was 324 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: the villa's gardener, same as my grandfather. At our little home, 325 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: we used to organize cheerful dinners and lunches where we sang, 326 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:57,760 Speaker 1: played music and laughed. In response to the idea that 327 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: the house is haunted and that a cold rich duols 328 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 1: were performed there, Negree dismissed it by frankly saying, quote, 329 00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 1: it's all crap made up by crazy people. These people 330 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: would sneak into the villa at night and smash up 331 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,480 Speaker 1: the doors. We decided to dress up like ghosts with 332 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: bed sheets in order to scare them off. We were organized. 333 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:18,360 Speaker 1: I stayed at the door while my brother in law 334 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,920 Speaker 1: hid upstairs. He got them running towards me and bam. 335 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,600 Speaker 1: Boots were pretty common back then, so you could hear 336 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,159 Speaker 1: the sound of me beating them tac tech. It was 337 00:21:27,200 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: a blast. Negree also mentioned punching one of his employees 338 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: in the face in a case of mistaken identity. He 339 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: thought the man was one of these intruders who had 340 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:40,639 Speaker 1: snuck into the mansion, and he went to investigate, and 341 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: that is when the accidental punching happened. Negrey also kind 342 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: of sadly mentioned that he could no longer bear to 343 00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 1: go inside the structure because it stayed after years of 344 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,639 Speaker 1: vandalism and neglect really discussed him. He said, of the 345 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: once beautiful home, quote, to me, it was heaven on earth. 346 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:00,520 Speaker 1: Because of the many scary stories told about it has 347 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,639 Speaker 1: drawn the interest of a lot of people curious about 348 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: its tragic history and spooky reputation. But there's another group 349 00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:12,120 Speaker 1: of people who have an interest in visiting, and that's architects. 350 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,399 Speaker 1: It's said to be a pilgrimage for some architects to 351 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: visit the property and see just how impactful Sidoli's design 352 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: still is, even in this state of decay. Today, Villadeveki 353 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,120 Speaker 1: is often touted strictly as a ghost house, but there 354 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: have been a number of efforts to preserve the villa. 355 00:22:31,280 --> 00:22:34,040 Speaker 1: In some cases, these have not been focused on attempting 356 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: to restore the site, as there's been so much vandalism 357 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,439 Speaker 1: and degradation over the decades that it would be just 358 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,840 Speaker 1: a monumental task that would involve the need for massive funding. 359 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: But as recently as twenty twenty three, there have been 360 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:51,359 Speaker 1: interesting ideas about how Villadeveki could be managed and rehabilitated 361 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:56,359 Speaker 1: going forward. In a dissertation titled Atheneum Adaptive Reuse of 362 00:22:56,440 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: Villadeveki into a Public Library, author Moham and Am laid 363 00:23:01,560 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: out a potential plan for the site to be sustainably 364 00:23:05,119 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: adapted for modern use in a way that would control 365 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 1: the influx of visitors and prevent further damage. To be clear, 366 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 1: this is a dissertation, it's not like a governmental initiative, 367 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:19,760 Speaker 1: but it outlines the way young architects might think about 368 00:23:19,840 --> 00:23:23,400 Speaker 1: spaces like Viladeveki and how there could be a way 369 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 1: forward for them to have a functional life in the future. 370 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: For now, though this site is still in a very 371 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: precarious state, there is wire around it to prevent unwanted visitors, 372 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: although whether that's effective in keeping anyone out is pretty debatable. 373 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 1: There are lots of very recent photographs from inside the house, 374 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,200 Speaker 1: so obviously people are getting in. The government also has 375 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: prevented anyone from working on the house, in part because 376 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: of its hazardous position and the likelihood that another avalanche 377 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,679 Speaker 1: or rock slide might happen in the area. So it 378 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: seems unlikely that this particular mansion will be developed anytime 379 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: in the near future as a public space. It turns 380 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:09,720 Speaker 1: out there is actually another abandoned Philadeveki with its own 381 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 1: interesting history, and we will get to that one after 382 00:24:12,880 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: we hear from the sponsors that keep Stuffy miss in 383 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: history class going. We mentioned before the break that there 384 00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:32,040 Speaker 1: is another Villadeveki, and this one is located not in Italy, 385 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:35,320 Speaker 1: though it has ties to Italy. It's located in Greece, 386 00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:38,640 Speaker 1: on the island of Rhodes, and it is historically significant, 387 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: and that historical tie is to fascism. It was built 388 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: by a man who shared a last name with Felix 389 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 1: de Veki, although it is unclear if they were related. 390 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:50,679 Speaker 1: I have seen some write ups that suggest they are 391 00:24:50,680 --> 00:24:54,320 Speaker 1: distantly related, others that say they are not. I think 392 00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: it's a fair bet that's somewhere along the line. They 393 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,639 Speaker 1: may have an ancestor in common, but we don't know. 394 00:24:59,160 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 1: Chase the a Marie de Vechi was born into a 395 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: middle class family on November fourteenth, eighteen eighty four, in 396 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:11,120 Speaker 1: Cassallee Manferrato that is also in northern Italy, although it's 397 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,880 Speaker 1: on the opposite side of Milan, about one hundred kilometers 398 00:25:14,960 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 1: or sixty two miles southwest of it. As a teenager, 399 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,760 Speaker 1: he enrolled in the Naval Academy, but did not stay there. 400 00:25:22,040 --> 00:25:25,640 Speaker 1: He enrolled in law school instead at the University of Turin, 401 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:29,439 Speaker 1: and then went into law practice after graduation. Yeah I 402 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: saw one biography that basically suggested that he could not 403 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:36,000 Speaker 1: hack military school. In the period of World War One, 404 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: when Italy remained neutral, c Czare served in the military 405 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:43,000 Speaker 1: and rose to the rank of second lieutenant. Then, when 406 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:45,399 Speaker 1: Italy entered the war, he fought and rose to the 407 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:49,600 Speaker 1: rank of captain. In nineteen nineteen, he joined the Fascist 408 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:53,439 Speaker 1: Combat Group. He also became the president of the Turin 409 00:25:53,520 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 1: Fascist Party. He described himself as quote a militant Catholic 410 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:02,200 Speaker 1: and an unreserved monarchy. From there he continued to rise 411 00:26:02,240 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: through the ranks of Mussolini's fascist regime as the dictator, 412 00:26:06,119 --> 00:26:09,120 Speaker 1: became Prime Minister on October thirty first, nineteen twenty two, 413 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: and then gained and expanded his power. In nineteen thirty six, 414 00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: Deveki was made the governor of the Dodecanese Islands, which 415 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:21,359 Speaker 1: Italy had controlled since nineteen twelve, and one of his 416 00:26:21,440 --> 00:26:24,760 Speaker 1: first orders of business there was to ensure that the 417 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,720 Speaker 1: main island of Rhodes had a palace worthy of Mussolini. 418 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: This was also intended to be a centerpiece for the 419 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 1: island culturally. This was important because it would make it 420 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 1: entirely clear that Italy was in charge. There was an 421 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: existing palatial structure in place on Roads That was the 422 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 1: Palace of the Grand Master, which was built by the 423 00:26:46,480 --> 00:26:50,680 Speaker 1: Knights Hospitaller in the thirteen hundreds. By the time Czzare 424 00:26:50,760 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: Deveki got to Rhoads, that particular building was something of 425 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,560 Speaker 1: a ruin. He had a vision, though, to rebuild the 426 00:26:57,640 --> 00:27:01,800 Speaker 1: site with a grand palace. Sometimes this is described as 427 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: a renovation, and other times the wording makes it sound 428 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:09,240 Speaker 1: like a full rebuild. We're about to talk about a problem. 429 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: That might be the reason those words are used interchangeably. 430 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: This project started in nineteen thirty seven and lasted for 431 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:21,040 Speaker 1: three years. The design of the new villa is, like 432 00:27:21,160 --> 00:27:25,520 Speaker 1: the other Villa Devechi, a blend of architectural styles. In 433 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 1: this case it was Italian Renaissance with Gothic touches. This 434 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: villa is often touted as being Mussolini's vacation villa, which 435 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,400 Speaker 1: she never actually used, but while it may have been 436 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 1: intended for Mussolini to stay there. It was also intended 437 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:46,400 Speaker 1: to be Czardveki's base of operations on the island, so 438 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:50,520 Speaker 1: to that end it included office spaces and reception facilities, 439 00:27:50,560 --> 00:27:53,440 Speaker 1: all of which were decorated with the blending of medieval 440 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: and fascist design. Aside from being a symbol of fascist ideology, 441 00:27:58,480 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: the construction of the new villa also obliterated parts of 442 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 1: the original structure, erasing its history. Because this was a 443 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:10,480 Speaker 1: case where Italy was rebuilding a Greek structure and discarding 444 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:13,360 Speaker 1: elements of it in the process, it was seen as 445 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 1: both cultural appropriation and erasure simultaneously, and this controversy was 446 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,320 Speaker 1: going on as this was being built. But all of 447 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:25,560 Speaker 1: it was very intentional on de Veki's part. He had 448 00:28:25,600 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: been tasked with establishing Mussolini's fascist regime in the Islands 449 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 1: in a way that was going to be obvious, clear 450 00:28:32,240 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: and imposing, and he definitely succeeded. At the end of 451 00:28:37,080 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: the war, de Vechi surrendered his division and went into 452 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:43,640 Speaker 1: hiding as he was sought by the puppet state of 453 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: the Italian Social Republic after the show trial known as 454 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: the Verona Trial. Deveki had been in favor of ousting Mussolini, 455 00:28:52,960 --> 00:28:57,200 Speaker 1: so the dictator's surviving remnant sentenced him to death. He 456 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: fled to Argentina with forged papers innineteen forty seven, but 457 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:05,120 Speaker 1: returned to Italy two years later. He died in Rome 458 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: in nineteen fifty nine, at the age of seventy five. Meanwhile, 459 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:12,640 Speaker 1: Mussolini was shot on April twenty eighth, nineteen forty five. 460 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:17,320 Speaker 1: The villa on Rhodes was abandoned completely by nineteen forty seven, 461 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: and much like the Villadeveki and Cortinova, it fell victim 462 00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:25,960 Speaker 1: to vandalism and became largely covered in graffiti. Unlike the 463 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 1: Cortanova property, though, you are welcome to visit the villa 464 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: on roads and it draws a lot of tourists. Today 465 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:36,080 Speaker 1: it is called the Mussolini Villa just as much as 466 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:40,120 Speaker 1: the Villadeveki. In twenty fourteen, the Greek Island villa was 467 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,760 Speaker 1: listed on the market with the hope that someone would 468 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 1: take a fifty year lease on the property. This was 469 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:49,000 Speaker 1: part of a larger effort by the Greek government to 470 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:53,000 Speaker 1: leverage various properties of significance in the hope of paying 471 00:29:53,040 --> 00:29:57,000 Speaker 1: down the country's debts. The group of fourteen properties were 472 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: advertised as potential hotel spaces. Three were for sale outright 473 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:04,160 Speaker 1: and the rest of them, like this one, were offered 474 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 1: as long term leases. In July of twenty twenty, it 475 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:10,440 Speaker 1: was reported that the villa was still on the market. 476 00:30:11,240 --> 00:30:15,000 Speaker 1: Throughout the effort to monetize these properties, the Greek government 477 00:30:15,080 --> 00:30:18,200 Speaker 1: has faced criticism that it was selling off its history 478 00:30:18,240 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: to the highest bidder, but Greek officials have pointed out 479 00:30:21,840 --> 00:30:25,680 Speaker 1: that prospective investors are likely to bring more light on 480 00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:29,920 Speaker 1: them on the international stage than what they're currently getting. Also, 481 00:30:30,200 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 1: I didn't hear anything suggesting that this particular one is 482 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:38,840 Speaker 1: haunted just Steph Wish, other than haunted by the ghosts 483 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: spector of fashions. Yeah, it's interesting the way it's written 484 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: about today as being one of those historical places that 485 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 1: is significant because it shows the opposite of what the 486 00:30:55,640 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 1: island's culture and desires were. So it's a fascinating spot. 487 00:31:00,480 --> 00:31:05,360 Speaker 1: I have cute cute cute listener mail. Are you ready yieth? Okay? 488 00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: This is from our listener Abby, who writes, Hi, Holly 489 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: and Tracy. I hope you ladies are having a great 490 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,040 Speaker 1: week despite the crazy times we are living through these 491 00:31:13,120 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 1: days here in the US. There are two reasons for 492 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 1: this email. The first is to say you two are 493 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: doing the heavy lifting and getting me through my workdays 494 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 1: and keeping me sane after any exposure to current news. 495 00:31:24,160 --> 00:31:26,440 Speaker 1: Thank you. I have been listening for years and find 496 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:28,400 Speaker 1: your voices to be so calming and at the same 497 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 1: time entertaining anyway, enough gushing, honestly, thank you. The second 498 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 1: reason for this email, and the reason I'm excited about it, 499 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 1: is that I was just listening to an old episode 500 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: where Holly mentioned that her family raised the same breed 501 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,240 Speaker 1: of dogs that are written about the fox and the hound. 502 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,600 Speaker 1: I know this she means redbone coon hounds, and I 503 00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:50,960 Speaker 1: knew I just had to write in about our dog Cliff. 504 00:31:51,280 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 1: Picture included, UH, don't worry. I just couldn't help myself. 505 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,800 Speaker 1: We rescued Cliff about two and a half years ago 506 00:31:57,000 --> 00:31:59,320 Speaker 1: as a nine year old guy. He had lived a 507 00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:02,520 Speaker 1: hard life as a bear hunting dog in Vermont. We 508 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:06,480 Speaker 1: introduced him to the comfort of living with dinks, including treats, toys, 509 00:32:06,840 --> 00:32:09,720 Speaker 1: going up and downstairs, and the beach, none of which 510 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:12,440 Speaker 1: he had experienced before. We're so happy to have him 511 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: with us in his retirement because he is just the 512 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:18,480 Speaker 1: sweetest best boy. However, we never had a hound dog before, 513 00:32:18,520 --> 00:32:21,120 Speaker 1: and boy, has it been an experience with a steep 514 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,360 Speaker 1: learning curve for us. We wouldn't change a thing, though. Anyway. 515 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,680 Speaker 1: Enjoy the pick of Cliff, and thanks again for keeping 516 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 1: me saying he certainly appreciates it. Abby is exactly correct. 517 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:36,240 Speaker 1: My family bred redbone coonhounds, and Cliff is adorable. He yes, 518 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:41,040 Speaker 1: extremely cute. Cliff. Cliff is great because he has that 519 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:45,640 Speaker 1: thing that a lot of dogs get on hound breeds. 520 00:32:45,680 --> 00:32:47,800 Speaker 1: It seems extra pronounced to me, but I could be wrong, 521 00:32:48,080 --> 00:32:50,680 Speaker 1: where they get gray hair around their muzzle and it's 522 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:54,719 Speaker 1: so sweet. Cliff is a distinguished gentleman. But I do 523 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:58,440 Speaker 1: know exactly what she's talking about with hound dogs, which 524 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:03,520 Speaker 1: are notoriously willful and have minds of their own and 525 00:33:03,560 --> 00:33:07,400 Speaker 1: can be very smart and sneaky at times, but also 526 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:09,920 Speaker 1: like some of the sweetest dogs on the planet. If 527 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:12,280 Speaker 1: you are in the loyalty of a coonhound, that dog 528 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:14,840 Speaker 1: is your dog for life. Cliff is so sweet. I 529 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: want to kiss his distinguished gentleman snout and I hope 530 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:22,440 Speaker 1: he is having the best day ever. Cliff, you are 531 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,400 Speaker 1: very lovable. Thank you Abby for sending this to me. 532 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:27,720 Speaker 1: This was a great trip do memory Lane. I haven't 533 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 1: really spent a lot of time with coonhounds in my 534 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 1: recent years, so it's a nice little flashback. If you 535 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:35,240 Speaker 1: would like to write to us and tell us about 536 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 1: your dogs, your cats, your squirrels, your birds, bird watching, 537 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:44,160 Speaker 1: I'm into it. Share that spiders, lizards, snakes, trying to 538 00:33:44,160 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 1: think of anything I wouldn't want to see a picture of, 539 00:33:46,480 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 1: even bugs. I'm good with it. Tracy Mayfield differently, I'm 540 00:33:49,360 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 1: not speaking for everybody. That's fine, Okay, great, I just 541 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: didn't want to, you know, presume to be like, send 542 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: us pictures of your cockroaches, and you'd be like, Holly stop, 543 00:34:00,000 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: that's fine. Cool, all right. Then we got plans you 544 00:34:02,880 --> 00:34:05,760 Speaker 1: could do any of that at History Podcast at iHeartRadio 545 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:08,319 Speaker 1: dot com. You can also subscribe to the show on 546 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app or anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. 547 00:34:17,560 --> 00:34:20,680 Speaker 1: Stuff you Missed in History Class is a production of iHeartRadio. 548 00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:25,640 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 549 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:27,800 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.