Passione's Headquarters

**Passione's Headquarters**, often referred to by mafiosos as **The Court**, is the main residence of Passione's highest ranking members that doubles as the main headquarters for the syndicate as a whole. Consisting of 18 acres of private land, it is one of the most coveted pieces of real estate owned by a mafia syndicate and certain areas of the estate are open to the public as green space, a museum, or can be rented out for private events. The Court also serves as a place of stay for the Consiglieri, other prominent guests or members of the syndicate, and their families via the guest villas on the property. As a headquarters, important business conduct regarding the elite of Passione are done within its walls.

A large estate mansion consisting of gardens, venues, and guest houses, it was built during the Italian Rennaisance and served as a country home for the aristocracy of Italy, France, and Spain until the 1800s. Its rich history ultimately led it to become the center of criminal activity when it was bought by Father Diavolo and Diavolo in both Fate of Zephyr and Vento Aureo respectively.

Due to its castle-like aesthetic and style, its nickname was given due to its historical connection to royalty and its appearance. While it is nicknamed The Court, the kind of court it is named changes depending on who is in charge. As of now, it is dubbed "La Corte del Diamante" under Zura Grattachecca's leadership.

## Description

At 18 acres of land in the mountains, the majority of the estate is on flattened land in Naples, Italy.

Greenspace areas include gardens, green houses, and orchards that house both local and foreign fauna that had been brought in by the aristocracy over the years. These areas are open to the public under the pretenses of them being parks that can be entered with a small fee for "upkeep". The greenhouses and orchards also provide food for the residence of The Court. The estate also boast a small farm consisting of chickens, bees, ducks, goats, and pigs that wander freely in certain areas of The Court. Eggs, honey, and milk from the animals are collected and used while meats from the animals are killed off-site and prepared separately before re-entering the estate. Every month, the estate holds a farmer's market that donates excess produce and animal products to food pantries nearby. There has been instances of pets of the residences such as horses and dogs that also live at the Court and have their own place of stay.

The court holds a few buildings that serve as offices or residential areas for guests. The main building, which many refer to as the central villa of the estate, has ballrooms and conference rooms that can be rented out for private events or used by Passione for their own purposes. The central villa also serves as residence to the Don of Passione and has its own private garden area. The surrounding villas serving as residential areas for guests and staff areas have their own smaller gardens as well. Unlike the central villa, the gardens are smaller and the villas are strictly for residential purposes. However, public visitors can still view their gardens while the private garden of the central villa remains limited to only the Don of Passione and their guests.

As a country home for the winter, the central villa is well equiped with efficient heating and has many fireplaces. Prior to its reconstruction, it was rumored to have much more than the ones seen today. Recent rennovation allowed quality air conditioning to keep the villa and surrounding buildings cool. The villa boasts 18 different rooms that include 1 ballroom and five conference rooms on the first floor. The second is used for officework and additional housing for guests as well as the main office for the Don. The private quarters for the Don and their family are exclusively on the third floor and boasts grand kitchens, living rooms, and entertainment rooms at their disposal. Underneath the villa are garages to store weaponry, vehicles, and other items for storage as well as an emergency bunker stocked with supplies that may last for up to a year as well as horticulture for extended stays. An underground tunnel allows members of Passione to enter the villa undetected.

The surrounding smaller villas were added in during the 1800s and were originally themed based on color. The color schemes remain when reconstruction was done. However, the design of the villas were drastically different prior to its destruction during both wars.

## History

The Court was first built in 1547 by Archbishop Giovanni della Rovere as a gift to his mistress and lover Isabella Montenegro after she announced she would only be his mistress if he built her a grand country home to reside in during the winter. The costly expenses of the construction and upkeep brought scrutiny to Giovanni's tenure but fulfilled Isabella's request. The house served as a winter country home due to its ideal location allowing temperate weather during the colder months. Due to its cost and as a means to make extra money, the house was also rented out to aristocratic families for use.

During the Enlightment period, Sir Marco Bocelli, a descendant of the oldest illegitimate son of Giovanni and Isabella, opened the house to be a salon for enlightment thinkers, scientists, and artists to convene and discuss their works. The Court became known as a center for intellectual discoveries, as it is later donated to the public and converted into a museum to preserve its rich history.

The early 20th century saw a decline in The Court's popularity and its foundation began to show signs of decay as World War One came around and looters began stealing and taking apart the estate during the The Great Depression, as it was ultimately abandoned. By the end World War Two, The Court was destroyed and defaced but also served as a secret headquarters for Allied Troops stationed in Italy. The property was slowly rebuilt over time before it was finally bought by Father Diavolo, who used his new profit from Passione's revenue to rebuilt the house into what it is today. Due to how much damage it sustained and lost over the years, the Court looks nothing like its past, and is rennovated to adapt to modern technology. Items from the court, such as salvagable art, structures, and plants, are preserved and displayed alongside the current decorations. Under Father Diavolo's rule, the estate was given the nickname **La Corte dell'Altissimo** (The Court of the Most High). Due to his secretive nature, Father Diavolo refuses to have any visitors and has strict policy on who can enter the headquarters, when, and how. Olio Nero falsely believed that Gigi Una would reside at The Court, or at least be escorted there, once his team's mission ended.

When Zura took leadership, the nickname changed to **La Corte del Diamante** (The Court of the Diamond). She, Giorno Giovanna, and Jean-Luc Polnareff are the only known residence of the estate. Andreas Arancini and Gigi were offered to stay at the estate but both declined.

## In Canon

Under Diavolo's rule, The Court has the same history. However, he called the estate **La Corte del Re Cremisi** (The Court of the Crimson King). When Giorno took over, the estate was renamed **La Corte del Principe D'oro** (The Court of the Golden Prince). Giorno considerd naming The Court the same thing when he went back in time.

## Trivia

* The nicknames and use of "The Court" is in reference to King Crimson's album *In the Court of the Crimson King* and its song "The Court of the Crimson King".