On the first anniversary of Gina Lollobrigida’s death last year, a memorial mass was held in the village of Subiaco, 50 kilometres east of Rome, where the celebrated actress and beauty was born and now lies buried. Among the congregation were Gina’s son, Milko, her ex-husband, Javier, a cluster of old friends from the film and art worlds, and – sitting conspicuously alone at the back of the church – a stubbly-chopped man in a threadbare sweater, who left before the end.
“I couldn’t stay,” said Andrea Piazzolla, Gina’s 36-year-old former personal assistant. “They were never there for her, and now they come to church and sit in the front row to mourn her. I don’t want to be in that situation. I prefer to experience my pain somewhere else.”
What Piazzolla didn’t mention was that the “somewhere else” is likely to be a prison cell.
Last November, the former handyman was convicted of stealing a large portion of Gina’s $30 million fortune, and given a three-year jail sentence, with further charges still to be heard. He is currently free, pending an appeal, and using the opportunity to persuade Gina’s vast army of Italian fans that he is the only person who truly loved and understood her.
Hailed in her movie-star heyday
