Berlusconi plans 'sober summer' to restore dignity

London, July 26 (ANI): After weeks of excruciating disclosures about Silvio Berlusconi's private life, the Italian leader is apparently trying to restore his dignity by planning a "sober summer".

Berlusconi, whose reputation was tainted when an alleged postcoital conversation of him was captured on tape by escort girl Patrizia D'Addario, wants to put the sex scandal behind him.

A part of that audiotape was published in L'Espresso magazine last week.

In one of the tapes, D'Addario, apparently, can be heard flattering the 72-year-old, adding: "You know how long it has been since I had sex like I had with you tonight ... It's several months, since I broke up with my boyfriend ... Is this normal?"

A voice said to be that of Berlusconi credits his performance as "a family thing," then advises D'Addario, 42, on sexual practices.

Now, with his popularity slipping below 50 percent for the first time, the biz tycoon is reportedly trying everything to run from the scandal, reports The Times.

He will apparently stay miles away from his estate in Sardinia. Instead, he will prepare the way for a comeback after the summer break by supervising construction projects in L'Aquila, in central Italy, which was badly damaged by an earthquake in April.

And in a bid to impress the Catholic church, several of whose cardinals have blasted him for setting a poor moral example, Berlusconi plans to pay visit to the shrine of Padre Pio, a hugely popular saint, in southern Italy. (ANI)