Afraid that he will be late in paying the property tax? One of the biggest and most talented stars in the world, Johnny Depp, recently announced that he is considering purchasing a historic castle worth 4 million dollars, in Montalto Dora, a small village in Italy. Thus, according to a report by the New York Post.
Depp explored the ancient fortress while directing a biographical film about the artist Amadeo Modigliani (Jewish-Italian painter and sculptor, one of the most important painters of the early 20th century). Sources revealed that actor Ricardo Scamario, who stars in the film alongside Al Pacino, also frequently visited the castle with the intention of purchasing it.
The castle, which recently underwent an extensive restoration and preservation process by the local authorities, boasts elements from the Middle Ages, from the period of Gothic architecture, and covers an area of approximately 2,044 square meters, includes 11 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a paved courtyard and a chapel (prayer room) from the 19th century 15.
After the saga of his high-profile defamation trial with his ex-wife Amber Heard ended in 2022 (and if you haven't seen the docu on the subject on Netflix, drop everything and go watch) - Depp, 60, lives and works mainly in Europe, where he currently resides in his 850 dunam estate in Somerset, England, which he purchased in 2014.
The mayor objects: "Depp should not be the king in this castle"
However, despite Depp's intentions, the mayor of Montalto Dura, Renzo Galetto, recently expressed public reservations about the Hollywood star becoming the owner of the castle, citing concerns about the economic impact on the local community, and the property's status under Italian cultural heritage protection. We should note that the village of Montalto Dora, which has only about 3,300 inhabitants, owns the castle as a community point of interest.
"Depp shouldn't be the king of this particular castle. A celebrity buying a historical monument like the Montalto Dora Castle would bring a lot of attention to the area. We're not sure if that would be the right 'economic synergy' for the community," Galto said, adding that "the residence is under the protection of the Italian cultural heritage, and any change to it will require many special approvals and permissions, which will take a long time."
According to the New York Post, Johnny Depp's representatives chose not to provide a statement on this matter.