The contents of the late Gianni Versace's sumptuous mansion on Lake Como, Villa Fontanelle, are being auctioned off here by Sotheby's and have already collected more than 2.4 million British pounds, some 2.55 million euros.
Some 550 objects have been put on the block including antique furniture, paintings, statues and glass and dishware.
The Italian designer, who was gunned down in Miami in 1997, used the villa as a weekend retreat from Versace's main headquarters in Milan.
The 19th-century villa has reportedly been sold to a Russian billionaire.
Withdrawn from the auction was a painting by German artist Johann Zoffany, valued at between 40 to 60,000 pounds, after the possibility surfaced that it may be been stolen.
The family of British Major George Maule, who is the subject of the 18th-century portrait, said they believe it was the same painting as the one stolen from them 30 years ago, and 15 years before Versace acquired it, apparently unaware that it was stolen.
Versace was murdered in July 15, 1997 in front of his Miami Beach estate by Andrew Cunanan, a 27-year-old male prostitute and alleged spree killer.
His ashes were placed in a family vault in the local cemetery of Moltrasio, the town where Villa Fontanelle is located.
