Bermudian retreat...with his country's Press in hot pursuit.

The Royal Gazette yesterday was flooded with calls from Italian journalists anxious to grill him about his next political move.

But while quick to train the TV spotlight on others, the mega-rich media magnate seems keen to avoid publicity himself .. . especially in Bermuda.

Yesterday, Mr. Berlusconi was said to be enjoying the quiet life at Blue Horizons -- his large, white, Tucker's Town home.

"He has been jogging, as well as having massages,'' confided a member of his catering staff.

He added, however: "Mr. Berlusconi likes his privacy ... I don't think he wants to be disturbed.'' A Royal Gazette reporter and photographer were turned away by a security guard when they tried paying the billionaire a visit.

"It is more than my job's worth to let you through,'' the guard said.

Mr. Berlusconi, tagged the second richest man in Italy, flew to Bermuda on Sunday night by private jet.

It is understood he flew here with his children, and some business associates, including Mr. Adriano Galliani, who runs his star-studded soccer club Inter Milan. But his wife, Veronica, was not with him.

One of the Italian newspapers closely following Mr. Berlusconi's movements is Il Messaggero .

It has carried an article headlined, "Spiritual Exercise in Bermuda'', stating Mr. Berlusconi was holidaying with his son, Piersilvio, and his daughter, Marina.

The article described Blue Horizons as a "beautiful, white, secluded villa'', standing opposite former US presidential candidate Ross Perot's home.

"His wife never comes here,'' it added.

Bermuda, the article continued, was a "financial paradise with one of the highest standards of living in the world''.

Also keeping an eye on Mr. Berlusconi is the Rome-based news agency AGI.

"We want to interview him about politics. There is a lot of interest in him in Italy,'' one of the agency's reporters told The Royal Gazette .

Mr. Berlusconi's fortune -- according to the latest Forbes list -- tops $2 billion.