For years, too many, it has been completely abandoned to its fate and its conditions are now dilapidated. We are talking about Villa Massoni, a heritage of the territory’s identity even if entire generations don’t even know what it is given that it hasn’t hosted public events for over 30 years. But perhaps, with the new year, a turning point could come. The Court of Massa, in fact, started the real estate enforcement procedure in July by appointing the architect Luca Martini as expert appraiser and the lawyer Roberta Catapiani as judicial custodian. The two experts will have to report, with the appraisals, about the current state of the villa and also indicate the value of the complex. With the start of the procedure we are therefore moving towards the foreclosure of the property and the sale, even if the complex, we remember, is under the constraint of the Ministry of Culture. The authorization for the sale, however, could arrive at the next hearing set for February 5, 2025. But it is not certain. The villa, as is known, belongs to the Casonatos, Marco and the heirs of his brother Piero. Marco Casonato is in prison for having killed his brother, in the villa, on 1 November 2017. Marco’s guardian (his wife Maria) and Piero’s recognized natural daughter (Alessandra) should therefore take care of the complex. But in reality, also considering the huge expenses they would have to face, no one has done anything so far. In June 2023 the Superintendency carried out an inspection to evaluate the state of the building and the garden. An inspection that produced a report (sent in December 2023) certifying the degradation, which is everywhere: the ceiling of the hall has also collapsed, some rooms are inaccessible and the garden itself is in a terrible condition.
In recent days the judicial custodian Catapiani and the appraiser Martini were at the villa for an initial inspection but a ‘black smoke’ arrived. the gate, in fact, was closed and the lawyers on behalf of the Casonato family were present (it is not known whether from Marco or Piero) who, in fact, with an appeal, blocked the first access of the Court’s officials. A ‘game’ that promises to be long and difficult.
Villa Massoni, as is known, is linked to the tragic events of the Casonato brothers and their disputes. The turning point came when, after damage to its artistic heritage, it was seized and Marco Casonato was appointed custodian. A bit like putting a fuse in the powder keg, given the constant arguments between brothers. Discussions led to arguments with requests from Marco Casonato to the police for interventions in the villa. On November 1, 2017, at the end of yet another clash, Marco killed his brother Piero. The villa was seized again and the architect Corrado Lattanzi was then appointed custodian until 2020. After a period… vacant, in July this year a new judicial custodian was appointed with the start of the execution procedure real estate.
Luca Cecconi
