Titian's house falls victim to euro crisis

Julia Panama, an interior decorator and former model who appeared on the cover of the first British edition of Cosmopolitan when it was launched in 1972, hopes that as confidence in the Italian economy returns, the historic home will sell for close to its asking price of 1,950,000 euros (1,553,000).

The price was open to negotiation, said Serena Bombassei, from Venice Real Estate, which is advertising the unusual property.

"We have historic records to show it was Titian's house and there is a plaque on the wall saying that he lived there," said Ms Bombassei. "We've had lots of inquiries from the UK, France and Italy. The price can be negotiated a little."

The house, which has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, "played host to kings and princes, as they came to pay homage to one of the greatest painters of the 16th century," the agency's website said.

Titian, whose full name was Tiziano Vecellio, was considered the leading artist of his day and described by a contemporary as a "sun amidst the stars".

Venice holds a few examples of his work, including the Pieta, a painting of Mary holding the dead Christ, which was intended for his burial chapel.

But he died of the plague before he could complete it.

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Titian's house falls victim to euro crisis