THE VIZCAYA MUSEUM AND GARDENS
Many have referred to this attraction as the "Hearst Castle of the East". And why not? This magnificent villa is more xandu-esque than anything else you'll find in Miami. Built in 1916 as a winter retreat for James Deering, co-founder and former vice president of International Harvester, today it serves as one of the best places to visit in the city. Apparently the industrialist was fascinated by 16th-century art and architecture and his ornate mansion, which took 1,000 artisans 5 years to build, became a celebration of that period. If you like antiques, this place is a dream come true, packed with European relics and works of art from the 16th to the 19th centuries. Most of the original furnishings, including dishes and paintings, are still intact. Particularly enjoyable are the early versions of a telephone switchboard, central vacuum cleaning system, elevators, and fire sprinklers. A free guided tour of the 34 furnished rooms on the first floor takes about 45 minutes. The second floor, which consists mostly of bedrooms, is open to tour on your own. The spectacularly opulent villa wraps itself around a central courtyard. Outside, lush formal gardens, accented with statuary, balustrades, and decorative urns, front an enormous swath of Biscayne Bay. Definitely take the tour of the rooms, but immediately thereafter, you will want to wander and get lost in the resplendent gardens.
|
