Giuseppe Conte linked to disputed sale of Rome's Gran Hotel Plaza

Former Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte met in late March with Paolo Zampolli, a close associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump who serves as a special envoy in Italy. While Conte initially said the discussion covered political matters, Zampolli later stated the conversation also touched on the sale of the luxury Gran Hotel Plaza in Rome, a property owned by the family of Conte’s partner Olivia Paladino.

The hotel is held by Immobliare di Roma Splendido, a real‑estate company now in liquidation, which also owns several other properties and generates rental income paid by a holding company of the Paladino family. The sale, expected to bring about €11 million, has not been completed, and the holding reports significant losses despite the hotel’s balance‑sheet valuation of roughly €283 million. Conte has not responded to media inquiries about the rental arrangements or the ownership structure of his residence and office.

The episode raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the financial health of the entities linked to Conte and Paladino.