Luca Barbareschi confirms end of marriage to Elena Monorchio

Italian actor and director Luca Barbareschi has confirmed the end of his seventeen-year marriage to Elena Monorchio, sharing his deep personal pain and ongoing affection in a candid interview with iO Donna as he celebrates his seventieth birthday.

The Reality of the Separation and Financial Pressures

• Barbareschi stated he tried every possible way to save the marriage, acknowledging that Monorchio no longer wanted to stay in the relationship.
• The actor admitted to facing economic challenges regarding the Teatro Eliseo in Roma, clarifying that his debts are being resolved.
• Despite the separation and professional strains, Barbareschi returns to television on November 8, hosting Allegro ma non troppo on Rai 3.

A Seventeen-Year Union and a High-Profile Separation

The separation marks a profound turning point for Barbareschi, who has just turned seventy and finds himself in a 700-square-meter home that suddenly feels too empty. After nearly two decades together, the end of his relationship with Monorchio leaves a stark emotional void. “I suffer a lot for the end of our marriage,” Barbareschi confessed, noting that he would have continued the relationship if given the choice. He admitted his own limitations in the partnership, conceding, “If I tell her I still love her, she doesn’t believe me, she gets irritated. But she should know she has the fortune of knowing I will always love her.”

Monorchio has maintained a low profile throughout their seventeen years together, shunning the spotlight that Barbareschi has navigated. Born in 1977 and twenty-one years younger than the actor, she grew up as the daughter of former State Accountant General Andrea Monorchio. Barbareschi described her as the most intelligent woman he has had beside him, serving as a vital anchor during a life defined by a complex and at times self-destructive nature. While Barbareschi shares older children with his first wife, Patrizia Fachini, and maintains strong ties with former partner Lucrezia Lante della Rovere, he regards Monorchio as the most important woman of his life.

Managing the Teatro Eliseo and Returning to Rai 3

Alongside his personal turbulence, Barbareschi addressed the financial questions surrounding the Teatro Eliseo in Roma. Having served as artistic director since 2015 and owner since 2018, the actor pushed back against exaggerated media reports regarding his balance sheets. “I have some economic problems with my theater, I have debts but I am solving them,” he clarified, adding that if he sold it he would break even, though his purchase years ago was driven by a commitment to culture.

The spotlight shifts back to his professional capabilities as Barbareschi prepares for his upcoming television return. Beginning November 8, he takes the reins of Allegro ma non troppo on Rai 3 in a late-night slot. The eighteen-episode run will focus on current events and culture, proving that his appetite for performance and the small screen remains undiminished at age seventy.