Emir of Qatar drops $115M for massive 168-acre Italian estate featuring 126 rooms and a remote-controlled volcano

Buying a luxury Italian estate is one thing, but owning an enormous private estate with its own remote-controlled volcano that erupts on command is on another level entirely.

Villa Certosa, the former summer retreat of Italian billionaire and ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, is one of the most extravagant properties on the Mediterranean.

The sprawling Sardinian estate boasts lavish residences, multiple swimming pools, a private amphitheater and enough space to explore for hours without leaving the grounds.

And some of its most unusual features sound like they belong in a James Bond movie.

The Italian estate has a history of hosting world leaders

Located near Porto Rotondo on Sardinia’s exclusive Costa Smeralda, Villa Certosa was transformed into an extravagant private mansion during Berlusconi’s ownership.

The former Italian prime minister, who died in 2023, spent decades expanding the property by purchasing neighboring land and incorporating it into his estate.

The result is a sprawling retreat with a main residence, guest villas, sports facilities, entertainment areas and extensive gardens overlooking the Mediterranean, alongside a lot of other high-profile celebrity mansions.

It also became a destination for some seriously high-profile guests, apparently Berlusconi hosted international political figures, including former US President George W. Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Now, the property has reportedly found a new owner in Qatar’s royal circle.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, Qatar’s former prime minister and a member of the country’s ruling Al Thani family, is linked to the acquisition through Constellation Hotels Holding, a company associated with his investments in luxury real estate.

The reported sale price was around €350 million ($395 million), according to reports cited by Reuters, putting the sprawling Italian retreat firmly in the territory of the world’s most expensive private properties.

The deal adds another extraordinary property to the portfolio associated with one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the Middle East.

Villa Certosa comes with 126 rooms and seven swimming pools

The estate’s scale is difficult to comprehend without seeing it for yourself.

Villa Certosa is described as covering around 168 acres, with a main residence measuring approximately 4,500 square meters and a reported 126 rooms across the property.

And that is before counting the additional guest accommodation and entertainment facilities.

There are seven swimming pools, a lake, a private amphitheater and an assortment of sporting facilities. The grounds also feature greenhouses, an extensive cactus collection and around 1,200 palm trees.

For anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors, there is plenty to explore without ever leaving the property.

The estate even has its own amusement park and soccer field, making it feel more like a self-contained resort than a conventional holiday home.

There is also an underground bunker, adding another unusual feature to a property already packed with extravagant amenities.

With its extensive grounds and multiple buildings, the estate offers plenty of space for hosting guests while keeping everything remarkably private.

The remote-controlled volcano is just the beginning

Perhaps the strangest feature of Villa Certosa is its artificial volcano, which can erupt on command.

The unusual attraction was reportedly built during Berlusconi’s ownership, adding another theatrical touch to a property already filled with lavish amenities.

There is also Neptune’s Grotto, an artificial cave and swimming retreat with access to the sea, the property has been described as having discreet underground access, adding to its almost cinematic appeal like its in a James Bond movie.

Elsewhere, the estate includes landscaped gardens and extensive facilities designed to accommodate guests in complete privacy.

For its new owner, the property could offer a secluded Mediterranean escape or potentially become an ultra-luxury hospitality destination.

Given the scale of the grounds and the number of guest facilities, there is certainly room for ambitious plans, although its future use has not been officially confirmed.

For now, Villa Certosa remains one of Italy’s most extravagant private estates, with a history of hosting powerful guests and an extraordinary collection of amenities, including a literal volcano.

And with a reported sale price of hundreds of millions of dollars, its next chapter could be just as remarkable as the decades it spent under Berlusconi’s ownership.