The Italian Countess

The Italian Countess Pia Bellentani caused a scandal in Italian high society. On 15 September 1948, at the legendary luxury hotel Villa d’Este on the western shore of Lake Como, she shot her lover, the Milanese industrial magnate Carlo Sacchi. But how could such a tragedy have come about? On that fateful night, a glamorous midnight ball was taking place in the Napoleon Hall of the luxury hotel, featuring a grand fashion show of the winter collection by the Milanese designer Biki. The host was Carlo Sacchi, who had invited only the very highest echelons of Lombard aristocracy. Among the guests was Carlo Sacchi’s former lover, the 32-year-old Contessa Pia Bellentani, who was married to one of the wealthiest aristocrats, Lamberto Bellentani, with whom she had two daughters, Stefania and Flavia. Despite her marriage, the Countess had been having an affair with Carlo Sacchi for three years; he had, in the meantime, filed for divorce from the dancer Lilian Willinser, with whom he had three daughters. He wanted to start a new life in South America with Sandra Guidi, known to everyone simply as Mimi. She had managed to tame the playboy, who was, of course, also present at this event. None of the guests had any idea that Pia would kill Carlo that night. Pia came from a middle-class background and was simply lucky that the much older Lamberto had fallen in love with her, as she reminded him of his mother. Lamberto suffered from an Oedipus complex. The marriage between the two was going well, but Pia lacked a certain thrill. She found this in Casanova Carlo, who constantly had several mistresses at once. Pia became obsessed with him and began to neglect her daughters and her husband. She spent days on end in dark rooms until her anger towards her lover turned to hatred, which erupted that very night. That evening, Pia was wearing a white silk dress with golden flowers and a diamond necklace worth millions around her neck. Beneath her ermine cloak she concealed her husband’s 9mm revolver. When she met Carlo in the Napoleon Hall and he mockingly called her ‘terrone’ – a derogatory term for southern Italians – Pia saw red. She drew the revolver and shot Carlo, who collapsed dead. She then held the revolver to her own temple to kill herself. But the revolver misfired and Pia was arrested. On 4 March 1952, the trial of Pia Bellentani began for the murder of her former lover Carlo Sacchi; Professor Saporito took on her defence. Pia Bellentani was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on 12 March 1952. On 23 December 1955, she was allowed to leave Pozzuoli Prison as a free woman, having been pardoned by the President of the Republic, Giovanni Gronchi. Money makes many things possible. Her husband always stood by Pia’s side; he died shortly after her release. Pia moved to Rome with her daughters, where she led a secluded life until her death in 1980.