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The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami is a very cultural, beautiful and pleasant tour for the whole family. For those who thought that Miami only offers beach and trendy nightlife, this museum in Miami contrasts this paradigm a little and shows that the city also has a rich cultural side. Located in the charming Coral Gables neighborhood, the palace that now houses the museum was originally the mansion of businessman James Deering, vice president of the International Harvester Company. Deering had a real passion for European culture, especially Italy, and the entire construction of the property was designed in a European Renaissance style, with incredible details of a typical northern Italian village, from a birdhouse to a painting and carpentry workshop. .
Read on to learn more about the museum, its history and what this incredible Miami tour offers. At the end of the article we show you a video so you can feel a little of the experience.
Construction began in 1914 and ended two years later. About 1000 workers were employed in the work, which corresponded to 10% of the population of Miami at the time. Most of the elements now exposed in the museum are original, from the furniture to decorative details, such as wallpaper in the lobby, which were hand colored.
Three architects were hired to develop James Deering’s bold and exclusive project. The mansion should be in the middle of a beautiful and lush garden. Most decorative items and accessories were purchased by Deering himself. Despite having a classic Renaissance style, the mansion was designed to bring what was most modern at the time, such as heaters, electric and automatic telephone panels, anti-fire systems and even elevators.
The mansion has three floors divided into more than 30 rooms, all richly decorated with hundreds of relics from the 15th to the 19th centuries.
Unfortunately, Deering was unable to take advantage of his dream. Construction ended in 1916, but Deering died in 1925. In 1926, a violent hurricane, known as Hurricane Great Miami, destroyed much of South Florida. Vizcaya was seriously affected. Only in 1952, with the purchase of the property by Miami-Dade County, the property was opened to the public. A major restoration was done to the Villa and its gardens, bringing back its original designs. Vizcaya has been credited by the American Association of Museums and is currently classified as a National Historic Landmark.
The beauty, grandeur and tranquility that the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens transmit make the property the ideal setting for weddings, social or corporate events. Anyone who has spent a night in Vizcaya with family, friends, colleagues or clients knows that there is nothing like it! The museum is available for rent every day of the year, except on some important holidays.
Miami Vizcaya Museum and Gardens highlights
- Visit the lobby and pay attention to its details, especially the original hand-colored wallpapers;
- Music room with instruments that came from an Italian palace;
- Butler’s pantry with an impressive display cabinet from the early 20th century;
- The stone barge that refers to the city of Venice;
- Stroll through the lush and imposing garden, with sumptuous statues, fountains, waterfalls and caves.
Of course, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami offers many other attractions. The ideal is to take a brochure with the map of the place and follow the recommended route. Feel the imposing and Renaissance atmosphere in this incredible museum.
Hours & Prices
Vizcaya is open to the public from Thursday to Monday from 9:30 am. Last admission is at 16:30. Visitors can enjoy the Main House until 17:00 and the gardens until 17:30. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thanks Giving holidays and on Christmas Day. To minimize points of contact and monitor capacity on site, all visitors must book tickets online prior to the visit. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here and cost a starting at $ 18 (see table below taken from the official website):
Video about Vizcaya Museum em Miami
Inspire yourself with this beautiful video about Vizcaya Museum & Gardesn in Miami:
Location of the Vizcaya Museum in Miami
Address: 3251 South Miami Avenue – Miami, FL 33129
The museum is in the Coral Gables neighborhood, a charming and very interesting region to visit. Take the opportunity to visit the museum when visiting the neighborhood.
