We spent several hours discovering the elegant Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami before heading down to the Florida Keys and absolutely loved it. This is a must-see attraction in Miami, especially if you’ve grown tired of sipping mojitos and laying around on South Beach. It has been described as “the finest private house ever built in America” and that is a reputation it fully deserves. You may be asking yourself “Hmmm where have I seen this place before?” Does Bad Boys II ring a bell? How about Ace Ventura: Pet Detective… BINGO! They filmed on this property for both movies. Remember when Ace makes a fool of himself at the party with all the rich people? It was at this mansion. It was also home to a drug cartel in Bad Boys II. Go ahead, watch the movies again, we did!
Vizcaya was built by the wealthy socialite James Deering as his winter estate. He traveled extensively throughout Europe and toured villas in Italy for inspiration for this stunning mansion and gardens. The estate was originally an immense 180 acres and had its own greenhouse, cows, and chickens to support the lavish lifestyle there. It required 40-50 people working on the estate to maintain it. Fresh flowers were placed in each of the rooms every day. Deering occupied the home during the winters from 1916 until his death in 1925 and hosted many grand parties during his time there. It eventually became too costly for his family to maintain an estate that size for private use, especially after devastation by 2 hurricanes and The Depression. It was dedicated as a museum so that all would be able to enjoy its treasures, and we sure are grateful because it is beautiful! The collection of art, furnishings, and antiques is astounding, as Deering had exceptional taste and collected items from all over Europe. Unfortunately photos were prohibited inside the mansion, so we only have photos from the outside and the gardens. If you enjoy interior design, art, and gardening, this is one museum you cannot miss!
We were told during the guided tour that the ship out back was both aesthetic as well as functional. It served as a break protecting the mansions from strong waves. All I could think about were the awesome parties that could have taken place on that ship.
The gardens and mansion are absolutely exquisite. My mom has huge botanical knowledge and walked around the garden teaching us about the great varieties of plants. She was in botanical heaven. We also were enchanted and loved exploring the beautiful grounds. It reminded me of the gorgeous castles and gardens in France that I visited years ago, with the structured landscape and European statues.
Have you ever seen such a grand entrance to an estate?
Formal structured European-style gardens inspired by Deering’s travels.
Italian renaissance architecture clearly inflcuenced the gardens of this grand estate.
The perfect spot for a cold drink in the shade of the flowered pergola.
This romantic gazebo on the water must have been a perfect spot to steal a midnight kiss.
Pool party anyone? Ace Ventura tiptoed around this pool just before entering the shark tank.
We absolutely loved Vizcaya and would love to tour it again next time we are in Miami. There is so much beauty, it can’t even be captured in photos. But don’t take our word for it, check it out yourselves. If you liked this post, please consider subscribing to our RSS feed for an update on each new blog post and our email newsletter for our tips to travel like a millionaire.
