Italian Noble and Princely Families 1: June 2004 - July 2007

[Tosca]

A couple of Italian aristocratic girls will attend te next debutantes' ball in Paris. (scans from this weeks CHI)

Sofia de Pahlen: she's the daughter of Margherita Agnelli - she's Lapo and John Elkann's half sister - and her second husban Russian count Serge de Pahlen:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/538/sofiatu7.jpg
http://img37.imagevenue.com/img.php?..._122_420lo.jpg

Princess Costanza della Torre e Tasso comes from the Italian branch of the German Thurn und Taxis family. They are also known as Torriani e Tassi:

http://img16.imagevenue.com/img.php?..._122_470lo.jpg
http://img41.imagevenue.com/img.php?..._122_598lo.jpg

[Tosca]

Old pics for Princess Olimpia Aldobrandini and husband David Rotschild can be viewed at:
http://archive.olycom.it/olycom/offe...do?idoff=32667

[christinacg]

Thanks Tosca!

[Tosca]

You're welcome!

[CarolMR]

Does anyone know if Princess Scilla Ruffo di Calabria is dating anyone? I think she's really adorable.

[Sancia]

Originally Posted by CarolMR

Does anyone know if Princess Scilla Ruffo di Calabria is dating anyone? I think she's really adorable.

I remember there was a rumor about Scilla dating prince William, but it was obviously false and I heard nothing else since.

[Juliette2]

I read that one of the de Pahlen girls had a child last year. Right at the time when John and Lavinia had theirs. Here is a snippet: (sorry it's in Italian!).

TORINO - Si chiama Leone, pesa 3,250 chili e sta bene. Rappresenta il primo erede maschio della sesta generazione degli Agnelli. È nato ieri, alle 9,45, nell´ospedale di Torino Sant´Anna il primogenito di John Elkann, soprannominato Jaki, vice presidente della Fiat, e della moglie Lavinia Borromeo.[...] Leone è il secondo pronipote di Marella, la vedova dell´Avvocato, perché proprio qualche settimana fa l´ha preceduto una bimba, la cui mamma, Maria de Pahlen, è la prima delle figlie che Margherita Agnelli ha avuto dal secondo marito Serge de Pahlen. Papà John era provato, ma felice (...)»


Has anybody more news? They certainly kept things under wraps...Maria was borni in 1983 and I do not think that she's married.

[Long Island]

Hi, this is my first positing. Recently I went with my family to my father's birthplace in south-west Emilia Romana, near Tuscany and Lugano. The small town is called Compiano, near Bedona (just incase anyone knows where that is). In that town there is a castle that used to be the seat of a small state of the Landi family. This family is said to be the ancestrs of the Grimaldis in Monaco, and they have even visited. The furthest I can find back is Maria Landi of Compiano, Princess of the Holy Roman empire. Would anyone know about this family from before 1599? Also, what happened to the family and are there any descendents still alive?

http://www.castellodicompiano.it/index.php

Thanks

[Warren]

Welcome to the Forums Long Island, and thank you for the interesting link to the castle.

With the Prince Albert connection and description of his 2003 visit to Compiano, you could also post this link in the Monaco Forums, in the thread The Grimaldi Ancestors, and direct members' attention to the 'Il castello e il principato di Monaco' section within the website. It may provide a diversion from the latest on Charlene Wittstock.

[Tosca]

Originally Posted by Long Island

Hi, this is my first positing. Recently I went with my family to my father's birthplace in south-west Emilia Romana, near Tuscany and Lugano. The small town is called Compiano, near Bedona (just incase anyone knows where that is). In that town there is a castle that used to be the seat of a small state of the Landi family. This family is said to be the ancestrs of the Grimaldis in Monaco, and they have even visited. The furthest I can find back is Maria Landi of Compiano, Princess of the Holy Roman empire. Would anyone know about this family from before 1599? Also, what happened to the family and are there any descendents still alive?

Castello di Compiano

Thanks

I live in the province of Parma, so I obviosly happened to hear something about the Compiano castle, the Landi family and their relationship with the Grimaldis. Prince Albert went there to pay a visit to his relatives in 2003.
You can find a gallery here:

Compiano - Il Principe Alberto di Monaco in visita a Compiano - di Mauro Delgrosso

[britti]

Originally Posted by Tosca

A couple of Italian aristocratic girls will attend te next debutantes' ball in Paris. (scans from this weeks CHI)

Sofia de Pahlen: she's the daughter of Margherita Agnelli - she's Lapo and John Elkann's half sister - and her second husban Russian count Serge de Pahlen:

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/538/sofiatu7.jpg
http://img37.imagevenue.com/img.php?..._122_420lo.jpg

Princess Costanza della Torre e Tasso comes from the Italian branch of the German Thurn und Taxis family. They are also known as Torriani e Tassi:

http://img16.imagevenue.com/img.php?..._122_470lo.jpg
http://img41.imagevenue.com/img.php?..._122_598lo.jpg

Hello!

Thanks very much for sending these pictures. Especially the one of Constanza della Torre e Tasso is interesting to me, as this family descends directly from the famous Princess Marie Bonaparte, one of my favourite Royals. I once had a contact with Prince Carlo Alessandro, Constanzas father, who is very very friendly, and they send me a family picture, but now I see that Constanza has become more grown up. It´s interesting. Was there a full article about her and the Duino castle? Unfortunately Prince Carlo Alessandro is not always at home and very busy. He must have many plans. I have read that a part of his castle was sold. But I like is sympathic caracter, even if I -until now -did not have the possibility to visit the castle. Has anybody visited it?


Here is the family picture. It was send to me by Carlo´s secretary Marcuzzi (who is also very kind!)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g8...Principe-1.jpg

[britti]

Has anybody more pictures of actual descendents of the others with the Bonapartes connected italian count- and princely families (like: Campello della Spina, Giunta, Roccagiovine, Bucci- Casari, Faina etc etc) ??

I would interested in any link or help, where to find pictures of those families. Here in Germany that is soooo hard to get.

[crisscross1]

That is my idea of a castle. What a magnificent building and surrounding area. I have a list of places to visit when I eventually retire and Compiano castle has moved to the top of the list. I love it.

[Tosca]

Hello!

Thanks very much for sending these pictures. Especially the one of Constanza della Torre e Tasso is interesting to me, as this family descends directly from the famous Princess Marie Bonaparte, one of my favourite Royals. I once had a contact with Prince Carlo Alessandro, Constanzas father, who is very very friendly, and they send me a family picture, but now I see that Constanza has become more grown up. It´s interesting. Was there a full article about her and the Duino castle? Unfortunately Prince Carlo Alessandro is not always at home and very busy. He must have many plans. I have read that a part of his castle was sold. But I like is sympathic caracter, even if I -until now -did not have the possibility to visit the castle. Has anybody visited it?

The article was about last year's edition of the débutantes ball held at the Crillon Hotel in Paris. Costanza et Sofia were the only Italian participants.
There were only few lines about these girls, but nothing about the Duino castle, apart from the aerial picture. The article said it's situated in the North East of Italy, but I do not know anything else about it, I'm afraid.

[Tosca]

Originally Posted by crisscross1

That is my idea of a castle. What a magnificent building and surrounding area. I have a list of places to visit when I eventually retire and Compiano castle has moved to the top of the list. I love it.

The province of Parma, where I live, along with its neighbouring province of Piacenza are very rich in castles, which are still well preserved and open to the public. Most of them are the various town councils' properties, including that of Compiano.

One of the most popular is the Rocca Meli Lupi in Soragna, which is partly owned by the last descendant of the Meli Lupi di Soragna princely family.
The Prince belongs to one of Europe's most ancient dinasties, even older than the Grimaldis or the Hanoverians. The Prince was a very close friend of Princess Margaret, who was hosted in that castle many times. The castle is also said to be haunted.

Here's a link, where you can find more infos:
Castles of Parma - Soragna

and some infos about Prince Diofebo Meli Lupi di Soragna (BTW I had the chance of meeting him several times: nice, jovial man!)
Diofebo Meli Lupi- Parma Italy

[britti]

Originally Posted by Tosca

The article was about last year's edition of the débutantes ball held at the Crillon Hotel in Paris. Costanza et Sofia were the only Italian participants.
There were only few lines about these girls, but nothing about the Duino castle, apart from the aerial picture. The article said it's situated in the North East of Italy, but I do not know anything else about it, I'm afraid.

The castle, which is situated near Trieste, must be very interesting and has a very famous historical background. Many great personalities have been there, like Heinrich Heine and others. Carlo Alessandro, Marie Bonapartes grandson and owner of the castle, told me, that he could explain all better, when one would visit him. I have read that Thousands of tourists are expected at the Duino castle for the future. It´s really a pity that I have never been there, because it must be wonderful. There are a lot of infos on the castle´s history also in the internet.
Do you have any infos or pictures of other italian count- and princely families, like the ones I mentioned above? Or any idea, where to find? Do they talk much about them in Italy? I don´t know...

[crisscross1]

Originally Posted by Tosca

The province of Parma, where I live, along with its neighbouring province of Piacenza are very rich in castles, which are still well preserved and open to the public. Most of them are the various town councils' properties, including that of Compiano.

Thanks for all the info Tosca, what a wonderful place to live. I am quite envious that you have all that on your doorstep. I am saving frantically to tour Europe, and will definitly be stopping in that part of the world for an extended period.

[Warren]

Here is the link to the Torre e Tasso residence, Castel Duino.
Check out the aerial pic of the castle on the front page, it has a spectacular location.

[Long Island]

Does anyone know how these small states, like the Landi State based in Compiano, were ruled and managed? Were there smaller nobles that helped rule the territory or did the peasants report directly to theses smaller princes? Also, what was court life like in these mountainous regions of Northern Italy? I have traveled through these regions before and it must have been extremely difficult to travel before modern times.

[Tosca]

If I'm correct a long while ago somebody aske for infos about the Guicciardini Strozzi princely family.
Here are a few scans for Princess Irina and her sister Natalia, taken from this week's DIVA mag

Natalia:
http://aycu34.webshots.com/image/106...1112911_rs.jpg

Natalia and Irina:
http://aycu34.webshots.com/image/115...5107555_rs.jpg

The GS princesses with their parents; with Mr. Tony Blair, and young Natalia with Rudolf Nureyev and Carla Fracci:
http://aycu15.webshots.com/image/108...1606608_rs.jpg