Italians mourn loss of controversial ex-leader Silvio Berlusconi
Hours after Silvio Berlusconi’s death was announced, dozens of the late three-time prime minister’s fans gathered outside his lavish official residence in Arcore, near Milan, to pay their respects.
Some had lined flowers and Monza football scarves along hedgerows encircling the 18th-century Villa San Martino, which Mr Berlusconi bought in 1974, and where many significant meetings of his political career took place.
Others wrapped in flags emblazoned with the text “Berlusconi President” shared memories about the politician.
Mr Berlusconi’s coffin was transported to the villa on Monday afternoon, following what had been portrayed as a routine visit to Milan’s San Raffaele hospital on Friday. His corpse will kept there until Wednesday, when a state funeral will be held at Milan’s Duomo.
A few hundred metres from the villa, Angela Bravi, 71, was straightening up a Forza Italia banner – the name of Mr Berlusconi’s political party – that she had hung from her balcony.
“I have not stopped crying since the news came. I didn’t think he would pass away so quickly,” Ms Bravi said. “By hanging this banner I want to say ‘I love you Silvio’.”
Outside the villa, Giulio Galbusera, a 75-year-old from Arcore, said Italians had been endeared by Mr Berlusconi’s “generous”, down-to-earth character.
“He was a gentleman with great humanity, and he communicated with everybody,” Mr Galbusera said. “He came to the village fair a few days ago and spoke with everyone that was there.
“That is the sort of affability that allowed him to conquer Italians,” he said.
Voters were won over by the business success of a man who sold washing machines while at university before going on to build a property and media empire, Mr Galbusera added.
“He was the number one entrepreneur. Everything he touched turned to gold, whether on the football pitch or the political battlefield. That made him impressive.”
After moving into politics, Mr Berlusconi soon established himself as the poster boy of the right, a status only reinforced when he portrayed his many legal trials as left-wing plots.
“He was a strong man. He waged war on the left that tried to bring him down,” Mr Galbusera said.
For many, Mr Berlusconi’s sporting success, as well as his ubiquitous presence on TV screens, was intoxicating.
“I support both AC Milan and Monza,” said Nicola Marsa, 53. “He made the clubs successful.”
“Berlusconi has been a constant presence during my life,” Ms Marsa added. “I have been watching him on TV screens since I was 10.”
