JAKARTA - Italy got ready on Tuesday to say goodbye to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, a colorful billionaire, dominated the country's political, business and football world for at least three decades.
Berlusconi passed away on Monday at the age of 86, three days after being treated at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan, two months after it was revealed he had suffered a long time ago.
"Italia without Berlusconi," wrote the Corriere della Sera newspaper, which dedicated more than 30 pages of coverage to the event.
No official cause of death was given, but Corriere, who broke the news of Berlusconi's death, said he died of fire, with conditions suddenly worsening on Monday.
Family and close friends paid their final respects at a private funeral ceremony at his villa ahead of tomorrow's funeral, most likely to be attended by tens of thousands of people.
Citing the Italian government website, Berlusconi will be buried stately on Wednesday, after a period of mourning and flag-raising period of half-mast on June 12-14.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Milan Catholic Church said the former Italian PM's state funeral would be held at the Milan Cathedral on Wednesday at 13.00 GMT.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella are among those scheduled to attend the Berlusconi funeral.
PM Meloni, Berlusconi's close ally, paid tribute to the man he called "one of the most influential in Italian history" via a video message on Monday.
"Berlusconi is a fighter," PM Meloni said in a video message posted on Twitter, citing The Local.
"He is a man who is not afraid to defend his faith, and it is that courage and determination that make him one of the most influential people in Italian history," said PM Meloni.
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