Pablo Picasso's granddaughter is selling his villa in Cannes and 126 of his ceramics as she tries to shake off unhappy childhood memories of the artist. Marina Picasso, 64, remembers being taken to the gates of the grand three-storey house, La Californie, by her impoverished father, Paulo, to beg for handouts from an indifferent Picasso. The sale "will be a way for me to turn the page on a rather painful story," told Marina Picasso. She has reportedly received an offer of nearly US$ 172 million for the 1920 villa that she inherited at the age of 22, along with an extensive collection of his works. Sotheby's expects the ceramics to fetch up to US$ 9.2 million. "It's not a house where I have a lot of good memories," she said. "I saw very little of my grandfather there. With hindsight, I understand that he may have been captivated by painting and nothing else was more important to him. Except when you're a child, you don't experience it like that." Picasso bought the villa in 1955 and painted one of his most famous works there, The Bay of Cannes. He moved out in 1961 after his view of the sea was blocked by a new building. Marina Picasso renovated the villa in 1987 and renamed it the "Pavillon de Flore", although it is better known as "La Californie". Marina Picasso says the sale will help her broaden her philanthropic projects. She funds a children's hospital in Vietnam and programs to help troubled teenagers and the elderly in Switzerland, where she spends much of her time. Picasso lived at La Californie with his second wife, Jacqueline Roque, who barred Marina Picasso and her brother Pablito from the artist's funeral. Pablito Picasso committed suicide a few days later. Marina Picasso's father was Picasso's son by his first wife, Olga Khokhlova, a Russian-Ukrainian ballerina. He was humiliated by being forced to work as the artist's chauffeur.

Former USA president Richard Nixon's mansion, which he owned nearly 11 years (1969-1980), put on market for US$ 75 million. The mansion, which the president dubbed La Casa Pacifica, is located in the first line in San Clemente, California. President Richard Nixon's so-called Western White House, family used for family retreats and strategic meetings, hosting guests such as Henry Kissinger and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev. Nixon, a Southern California native, retreated to the home after his resignation in 1974, following the Watergate scandal, and wrote his memoir there. He sold the estate to Mr. Herbert, and partners, in 1980 in a private sale. The 22.3 thousand square meters estate in San Clemente has more than 1400 square meters of living space over a main house, guesthouses and staff quarters, and 140 meters of ocean frontage. The main residence was designed in the 1920s by Carl Lindbom for Mr. Cotton, a wealthy local businessman, who was inspired by the mayor's residence in San Sebastian, Spain. The inside has tiled and wood floors and wood-beamed ceilings; large arched windows overlook the ocean. The home is designed in a Spanish Colonial style-white stucco and red-tile roof, and living spaces around a central courtyard with a fountain. An outside staircase leads to an office with a fireplace that Mr. Nixon added. The dining room overlooks the home's ornamental and English gardens on the opposite side. The tranquil lot overlooks a popular surfing beach. It has flower and vegetable gardens, neatly trimmed hedges, and palm and cypress trees. Listing agent Rob Giem, of HOM Sotheby's International Realty, says the high price tag (US$ 75 million) is justified, even aside from the property's provenance, as it is the largest stretch of available residential oceanfront south of Los Angeles. Prices for vacant waterfront lots in Orange County typically sell for US$ 5 million to US$ 10 million for a 2,5 thousand square meters, he says. "It's one of a kind," he adds. Gavin Herbert, the retired founder and CEO of Allergan is selling the estate after 35 years of ownership and is looking for a buyer who will continue to care for the property. Mr. Herbert and his partners developed the property into a gated subdivision with 14 other homes. He also added an octagonal poolside pavilion, and decorated it with photos of visiting dignitaries. More recently, he remodeled the main house, rebuilding about 30% and putting in a basement. The master suite was expanded to include a bath and closets. He also replaced a living-room fireplace and donated the original to the Nixon library.

A 74-room mansion used by Napoleon Bonaparte as his headquarters during a famous battle has been put up for sale, reported Daily Mail. It is on the market at US$ 5.78 million with Beauchamp Estates, which also has a two-bedroom flat for sale at a similar price in London's Belgravia. Villa La Voglina in Piedmont, Italy, was built in the 18th century by the world-renowned Baroque architect Filippo Juvarra. The historic property is set in 240 thousand square meters and boasts 13 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms and a private chapel with seating for 30 people. The property also has 2 dining rooms, 2 kitchens, 10 reception rooms and a guest house. There are beautiful formal gardens and terraces along with a vineyard which, if restored, could produce around 100 thousand bottles of wine per year. Some 215 years ago, the French emperor used Villa La Voglina as his headquarters for the Battle of Marengo. The fighting between the French and Austrians took place near the city of Alessandria in Piemonte on June 14, 1800.