(ANSA) - Ottaviano, July 25 - A medieval castle once the home of a notorious local mobster was the star attraction at an anti-mafia summit here on Monday.
The Palazzo Mediceo in this Campanian town is being transformed from a renowned haunt for local criminals into the headquarters of the Mt. Vesuvius National Park. Perhaps even more importantly, it has become a symbol of the Italian state's determination to triumph over the mafia and put its ill-gotten gains to a positive use.
"Today's meeting has a particular significance, as it's being hosted by a place that was a point of reference for organized crime," said Environment Minister Altero Matteoli. "It has now become an emblem of state victory. It's clear that the state is present everywhere and is winning the battle against crime."
The complex, which lies on the slopes of Mt Vesuvius, started life as a castle. Its foundations were laid some time around the beginning of the last millennium. The famous Medici family of Florence acquired the property in 1567, later renovating it to use as their residence when in Campania. Illustrious guests have included, among others, Pope Gregory VII.
But the castle is best known in modern times for being the home of Raffaele Cutolo, the boss who ran the Naples Mafia - the Camorra - in the 1970s and 80s. The government seized the property in 1991, eventually handing it over to Ottaviano municipal authorities, which - with the help of a 1.5 million euro cash injection form the environment ministry - has transformed it into the park's new headquarters.
"We're proud to have reclaimed our history and our identity," said Ottaviano Mayor Mario Iervolino. "Today we're getting the chance to show off our 'family treasure'". For the last decade, Italian authorities have made a point of converting seized mafia properties into socially beneficial schemes.
However, despite its grand makeover, one final niggling problem has emerged in recent weeks. Having repossessed the building from one nuisance, local authorities found themselves struggling with another: 50 bats with a taste for the finer things in life have taken up residence there. "The bats are squatting in the building," explained the president of the Mt Vesuvius National Park, Amilcare Troiano. "A team of experts has been working to find a solution to the problem for some time now."
Park authorities are being obliged to take a softer approach in moving the bats than the building's previous owner would no doubt have adopted as the animals are a rare, protected species.
