One of Europe’s most famous private estates has entered a new chapter after being purchased by one of Qatar’s wealthiest royals. Qatar’s billionaire former Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani has completed the purchase of Villa Certosa, the famous Sardinian estate owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.Sheikh Hamad, widely known by his initials HBJ, is one of the richest members of Qatar’s royal family. His personal wealth is estimated by Forbes at around $5 billion. This purchase adds one of the Mediterranean’s most exclusive and unusual properties to its already extensive collection of luxury properties.According to Italian financial newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore, the 66-year-old billionaire paid around €350 million ($395 million) for the Villa Certosa. The deal came after a major reduction in the price, as the property was originally put on the market for €500 million ($571 million).
A $395 million estate that costs millions to maintain
Although Sheikh Hamad purchased the property at a price lower than its original asking price, Villa Certosa is extremely expensive to operate. The vast estate requires approximately €8 million each year for maintenance and staffing.Operating costs include huge energy bills, with electricity expenses alone reportedly reaching around €1.3 million annually. The property comes with a €94 million mortgage and requires its own private desalination plant to supply water to the vast grounds.
Located on Sardinia’s famous Costa Smeralda, Villa Certosa covers approximately 120 hectares of land, making it larger than Vatican City. The property is approximately the size of 83 standard football pitches.The main residence covers approximately 4,500 square meters and has 126 rooms. Designed by Italian architect Gianni Gamondi, the estate includes several additional buildings, guest areas, and greenhouses used for the maintenance of rare plants.
A mansion with ponds, caves and an artificial volcano
During Berlusconi’s ownership Villa Certosa became one of the most sought-after private estates in the world. Over the years, the former Italian Prime Minister added a variety of luxury and unusual features to the property.The property includes a regulation football pitch, several tennis courts, bocce courts, a private golf course, a helipad, a spa, and a Greek-style amphitheater for entertaining.The water facilities are equally impressive. Instead of one traditional swimming pool, Villa Certosa has seven separate pools, including a special thalassotherapy area made up of five connected seawater pools.
The grounds also contain artificial lakes known as Palm Lake and Bayou Lake. These areas feature small artificial islands, resident swans, and even a floating tiki bar where guests can enjoy drinks on the water.Some of the most unusual additions to the property were built for privacy and security. During Berlusconi’s ownership, a bunker was built on the property, which also included an anti-nuclear shelter and a hidden grotto built into the seaside hill.The secret cave allows guests to arrive by boat through an underground tunnel, helping them avoid the attention of photographers and surveillance cameras.The property also includes an artificial volcano. A mechanical system allows the facility to create a simulated explosion, complete with special effects designed to make the experience look realistic.
A private botanical collection spread over 120 hectares
Apart from its buildings and luxury facilities, Villa Certosa also serves as a large botanical garden.The property contains thousands of rare plants and carefully designed gardens. It includes a cactus amphitheater containing approximately 2,100 succulent plants representing 500 species.The property also has a palm collection containing approximately 1,200 individual trees, as well as a hibiscus museum containing 5,000 plants of 850 varieties.Other parts of the grounds include a citrus grove containing approximately 800 trees of 160 species and a Garden of Gethsemane containing approximately 150 ancient olive trees.Maintaining such a large landscape requires a permanent team of workers responsible for the care of the gardens, buildings, guest areas and seven independent villas spread across the property.
From Berlusconi’s private retreat to a luxury resort
Sheikh Hamad does not plan to keep Villa Certosa as a private residence. His company, Constellation Hotels, already owns luxury hotels and historic properties across Europe, and current plans are to convert the property into a high-end resort.The move could eventually allow visitors to experience the property’s architecture, gardens and unusual features without the millions of dollars needed to purchase it.The purchase also represents a personal connection for Sheikh Hamad, who has spent more than two decades visiting the Sardinian coast. His 436-foot superyacht Al Mirqab, worth approximately $300 million, is regularly seen in the waters around Porto Cervo during the summer season.The former head of the Qatar Investment Authority, HBJ has built a reputation for investing in some of the world’s most valuable properties and assets.