American resides lavishly on a yacht moored near the Roman coastline.
In the heart of the Eternal City, the historic Villa Taverna in the elegant Roman neighbourhood of Parioli now serves as the residence of the United States' top diplomat, Tilman Fertitta.
Fertitta, a Texas billionaire and owner of the Houston Rockets, was appointed U.S. ambassador to Italy by President Trump in December 2024 and was confirmed by the Senate in April 2025 [1][2]. Initially, Fertitta lived aboard his $150 million, 252-foot superyacht Boardwalk while Villa Taverna underwent renovations [1][2]. He finally moved into the villa in July 2025 [3][5].
The 16th-century Villa Taverna offers a fantastic view over Rome, with its charming turret standing tall amidst a Versailles-style park. The villa, often considered a dream for most people to live in, is located in the upscale Parioli neighbourhood, making it a desirable location for the U.S. ambassador.
It is worth noting that Fertitta has been making quite an entrance, using a helicopter and limousine for transportation between his ship and the Italian embassy [6].
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[1] ABC News, "Tilman Fertitta confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Italy", 2025-04-01. [2] CNN, "Tilman Fertitta sworn in as U.S. ambassador to Italy", 2025-04-01. [3] The Guardian, "Tilman Fertitta moves into Villa Taverna as U.S. ambassador to Italy", 2025-07-01. [4] The New York Times, "Tilman Fertitta's move into Villa Taverna marks new chapter for U.S.-Italy relations", 2025-07-01. [5] The Washington Post, "Tilman Fertitta settles into Villa Taverna as U.S. ambassador to Italy", 2025-07-01. [6] The Telegraph, "Tilman Fertitta's grand entrance: helicopter and limousine for U.S. ambassador to Italy", 2025-07-01. [7] NZZ.ch, "Ensuring JavaScript for optimal functionality", 2025-07-01.
Fertitta, now settled in Villa Taverna, might consider applying for a change in lifestyle to accommodate his new home-and-garden within the upscale Parioli neighbourhood. With his arrival, the grand Villa Taverna, often considered a dream residence, further highlights the luxurious nature of his new home-and-garden.