San Marco Tower Seized Amid Investigation of Foundation and Officials in Gardone
San Marco Tower in Gardone Riviera, the famous venue owned by the Fondazione del Vittoriale and used by Gabriele d’Annunzio as a yacht dock, has been placed under seizure and closed indefinitely by order of the Procura della Repubblica di Brescia.
The crackdown by the carabinieri took place in recent days, but only in the last few hours did the news leak out and become public knowledge. According to sources, among those investigated there are also some public administrators from Gardone Riviera, notably former mayor Piercarlo Belotti, current mayor Alessandro Bazzani, the president of Fondazione del Vittoriale, Annamaria Andreoli, and the current managers of the Torre San Marco, the Tosetti family, who also run the “Fiordaliso” restaurant-hotel in Fasano.
Reactions and Official Confirmations
However, this news has not been confirmed by the municipal authorities: those who answered the phone yesterday morning firmly denied the event. The local Polizia urbana command confirmed only the closure of the venue. Finally, throughout the day, it was impossible to contact Mayor Alessandro Bazzani.
The sealing was carried out by the Compagnia di Salò carabinieri, under the mandate of public prosecutor Paola Borio, after the investigating judge approved her requests. However, the carabinieri themselves did not confirm this news. Nonetheless, based on credible leaked information, at least six individuals are under investigation.
The Tosetti Family’s Statements
“We hold a regular rental agreement,” explains Ms. Tosetti. “We have balanced the accounts we inherited, with the support of the Vittoriale administration. Despite these efforts,” she continues, “we now find ourselves with the venue closed indefinitely. And this is thanks to someone…”
The drastic measure taken by the Procura reportedly stems from alleged irregularities recently found in the management of a public and museum structure. Specifically, there are reports of supposed obstructions to tourists wanting to visit the world-famous Torre di San Marco.
Of course, these accusations are yet to be proven. Nonetheless, crimes deemed serious enough have been identified to trigger intervention by the Procura and the seizure of the property.
History and Controversies Surrounding the Tower
The Torre’s locale has not been new to legal troubles; it’s one of the most frequented spots on the Garda Riviera, appreciated not only for its enchanting location but also for its refinement and exclusivity. Its issues began about ten years ago, under the ownership of Lucillo Bertanza, a regional entrepreneur involved in various sectors, mainly automobile trading.
The reasons were roughly the same as today. The Torre was closed multiple times and later reopened, but always with an unresolved “original sin,” likely partly due to past municipal administrations and other entities that never clarified definitively the role of the former dock of the “Vate,” a national monument subject to the constraints of the Soprintendenza ai Beni Architettonici.
Debates on the Tower’s Use
Another frequently discussed but never thoroughly examined issue concerns the possibility of leasing out part of the Tower, transforming it into a public venue managed by the Fondazione del Vittoriale. Some consider this a questionable decision that may have contributed to the legal troubles.
