Supposedly this was built using public funds

This was the original source of the photos.
http://www.zappadu.com/2012/09/06/abusi-obbedir-tacendo/

Also:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/silvio-berlusconi/9528321/Silvio-Berlusconis-James-Bond-style-underground-cave.html

[url=http://www.bloomberg.com/video/revealed-berlusconi-s-secret-bunga-bunga-cave-G~0BKQP9SuKMLibEz6S9Cw.html]http://www.bloomberg.com/video/revealed-berlusconi-s-secret-bunga-bunga-cave-G~0BKQP9SuKMLibEz6S9Cw.html[/url]

""It was the secret services who asked me to carry out the work, after I had received 38 death threats," Mr Berlusconi explained at the time.

He said he had sought advice on the design and construction from Pietro Lunardi, a cabinet colleague who was then the minister for infrastructure and insisted that no planning regulations had been broken. "

It looks like some kind of James Bond villian secret cave, with a little "chinese new millionaire" kitsch touch. Shameful.

It's funny, because I was thinking Chinese cave when I saw the pictures. I've been in a couple and it looks like they borrowed heavily from the lighting schemes I've seen.

Not surprised, Berlusconi really needs to see time in prison.

Bunga Bunga?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX2KalVX_d0&feature=related

To think that this man was the long term prime minister of Europe's 4th most powerful economy. It's an embarrassment.

Maybe I'm having some huge reading comprehension issues, but where does it say public funds were used? I read all three "articles" and there's no trace of that.

Nvm

I want a secret cave too :-( Preferably in a hollowed-out volcano.

Damn... maybe he did watch too many James Bond movies...

"No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die"

That's kind of hilarious ... and horrible all at the same time

Well, if you're going to waste other people's money, may as well do it in style.

Right on.

Standard lighting which I've seen in every single grotto I've ever been to.

He's a very wealthy & powerful man. The type of villain you always see on movie.

http://elpais.com/elpais/2012/09/11/gente/1347386062_417567.html

"Mientras Silvio Berlusconi deshoja la margarita de su regreso a la primera división de la política, se han conocido unas fotografías de la gruta secreta que, con cargo al erario público, se construyó allá por 2004 en Villa Certosa"

Here they said that it was built in 2004 using public funds (dunno if partially). Apparently the spend was detected some years ago and he tried to justify himself claiming it was based on a recommendation made by the secret services after many death threats.