In 1992, couturier Gianni Versace fell in love with Casa Casuarina; now known as “The Villa By Barton G.”
When he purchased the property, he went to battle with local preservationists after he announced his plans to tear down a neighboring hotel so he could build a pool. Versace exquisitely restored, expanded, and embellished the original structure by adding the south wing and pool.
For a fabulous Vino con Vista, stretch out on a lounge chair at ”The Thousand Mosaic Pool and Mosaic Garden” area.
The 19,000 square foot Casa Casuarina is now the home of an elegant boutique hotel. The Gianni Versace logo embellishes the ironwork fence and planters. In 1993, Versace was inspired to design a collection devoted to Miami Beach.
Every day, Gianni would stroll over to the News Cafe on Ocean Drive to have coffee and read the Italian-language newspapers and international periodicals. That was the last place he was seen on the day he was murdered. Versace was murdered on the front steps of his home by Andrew Cunanan on July 15, 1997.
The Versace Mansion in South Beach Arched entrance of the Versace Mansion
This incredible Mediterranean Rivival stucture is located at Ocean Drive and 11th Street.
The notable eclectic architecture includes the dome of the private observatory, arched windows and metal ironwork.
It was originally built in 1930 as a getaway for a wealthy oil executive by architect, philanthropist, author and political reformer Alden Freeman. This Mediterranean Revival house was ”constructed partially of coral and featured exposed timbers.” The three-story palace was modeled after the Governor’s House in Santo Domingo; as “an homage to the oldest existing house in the western hemisphere, the “Alcazar de Colon” in Santo Domingo.”
Versace Mansion in South BeachBeautiful Urn in the Courtyard
Upper Level of the Versace Mansion
In 1937, after Freeman’s death, Casa Casuarina was bought by Jacques Amsterdam, who renamed it “The Amsterdam Palace.” He operated the structure as an apartment building and most of the residents were artists.
Fresco in the courtyard
Dome of the Versace Mansion
Versace Mansion Fountain in the Courtyard of the Versace Mansion
Intricate Flooring in the Versace Courtyard
Europe Statue in the Courtyard Africa Statue
Asia Statue
America Statue
I love the statues in the courtyard that represent the continents. Each sculpture has the names of famous people from each region engraved on the face of the statue.
Today, the former home of Gianni Versace on South Beach, is a swanky hotel and restaurant called The Villa By Barton G. Barton G. Weiss is a famous restaurateur who took over the mansion in December 2009.
Menu at the Villa
This elegant boutique luxury hotel also has a restaurant and space for events. There are 10 unique luxury suites that range from 500 to 3,500 square feet at this incredible oasis in the heart of South Beach. You can relax on the Rooftop Lounge, get a poolside spa treatments or request your own personal British-trained butler.
There’s a little square-mile stretch of Beach-Bunny paradise in the southern part of Miami Beach called “South Beach.” South Beach is east of Downtown Miami, across Biscayne Bay.
English: A photograph taken of Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This area has an incredible annual South Beach Food and Wine Festival the last weekend of February. The annual event showcases many of the world’s top chefs, spirits producers, and culinary personalities. The event is hosted by Florida International University‘s (FIU) School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Proceeds from the festival go to the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management’s Teaching Restaurant and the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center at FIU.
South Beach Food and Wine Festival 2012
This archtectural district is pretty compact so it’s relatively easy to walk around and be transported to another era. Most of the interesting buildings have been beautifully restored.
Architecture at night – South Beach, Miami, Florida, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
This area is located in the South Beach neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida. The district is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Sixth Street to the south, Alton Road to the west, the Collins Canal and Dade Boulevard to the north. It contains 960 historic buildings.
South Beach Map
Image via Wikipedia
The Ocean Drive area received Historic District designation thanks to the efforts of Barbara Baer Capitman and her fellow Art-Deco loving Miami Design Preservation League activists.
There are two distinctive design principles that characterize the geometric facade of these buildings: (1) the center element is the most dramatic; (2) the sides of the facade are symmetrical. A good example is the Berkeley Shore Hotel shown in the picture above. South Beach has a distinctive Tropical Art Deco Style.
Colony Hotel – South Beach, Miami, Florida, USA. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The “Miami Beach Architectural District embodies the design continuum of the City from its early development Period in the 1910′s to the construction Boom following World War II. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 largely through the efforts of Barbara Baer Capitman, founder of the Miami Design Preservation League. Its one square mile area includes over 800 significant structures with the following architectural styles: Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, Streamline Modern and Miami Modern or “MiMo.” The Colony Hotel is the oldest Art Deco Hotel in South Beach!
The Colony Hotel in South Beach
I love South Beach Florida
Art Deco Welcome Center in South Beach
Stop at the Art Deco Welcome Center to pick up a map. Plan a walking tour with a headset. Here are some intersting examples of architectural gems in South Beach on Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue :
The Carlyle Hotel at 1250 Ocean Drive in South Beach
There have been many movies filmed in South Beach: the Carlyle Hotel is where the “Birdcage” was filmed starring Robin Williams at 1250 Ocean Drive.
The Carlyle at Night
The Cardozo at 1300 Ocean Drive
Hotels in South Beach Florida
The Edison Hotel in South Beach
The Cardozo Hotel at 1300 Ocean Drive has a sweeping front porch that gracefully curves around the corner and represents “Streamline Style.”
The Cardozo hotel was named after the Supreme Court justice and it has been lovingly rehabbed by Gloria and Emilio Estefan in an Asian Motif. Walk into the hotel to admire the vintage poster collection.
The charming Beacon Hotel is where the movie “Scarface” was filmed with Al Pacino. Check out the photos at the end of this post to see the interior of the Beacon Hotel.
After your walking Tour, have a refreshing Miami Vice with a “Rum Floater” (presented in a test tube) at the Cleavelander Hotel on Ocean Drive as you listen to live music. Everyone loves the Cleavlander!
English: Digital photo taken by Marc Averette. A typical winter day on South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Have a Miami Vice at the Cleavlander on Ocean Drive in South Beach
Have a Glorious Vino con Vista Weekend in South Beach Florida. South Beach is a dynamic neighborhood in the city of Miami Beach, Florida. This section of Miami Beach was developed, starting in the 1910s, by Carl G. Fisher, the Lummus Brothers and John S. Collins.
Here’s my South Beach Video that highlights some of my favorite sites:
Lummus Park in the City of Miami Beach
Here are some great sites to see:
South Beach Miami lifeguard post 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Panoramic image of South Beach, the southern end of Miami Beach in Miami, Florida Español: Imagen panorámica de South Beach, la punta más sur de Miami Beach en Miami, Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
1. In front of Ocean Drive, Lummus Park Beach stretches for ten blocks. If you’re a beach bunny like me, you will love this Lummus Park Beach!
South Beach / Miami Florida (Photo credit: joanna8555)
After a 1992 hurricane destroyed most of the lifeguard stations, colorful replacements were erected. Admire the novel lifeguard stations between 10th and 16th Streets in South Beach.
South Beach - Droid (Photo credit: ehpien)
south beach (Photo credit: eschipul)
2. Espanola Way is a quaint Spanish Meditteranean Village with plenty of great restaurants and bars. Walk in the footsteps of Desi Arnaz along Espanola Way between Washington Avenue and Drexel in South Beach to see Mediterranean Rivival Style architecture. Desi loved to party in this part of South Beach during the 1940s. He played his bongos and sang his Cubansongs along this charming street. This is where Desi Arnaz created the sultry rumba craze!
Cover of Desi Arnaz
Barbara Capitman and her buddies at the Miami Design Preservaton League saved the structures on this alluring street. “The Historic Spanish Village” is modeled after the romantic Mediterranean villages found in France and Spain.
Today it consists of art galleries, restaurants, and quirky shops. See a flamengo dance performance or tour the art galleries and little boutique shops. Check out Havana 1957 for Cuban Cuisine; or the ”Tapas & Tintos” Tapas Bar while you are in the neighborhood. Look into their Flamengo Schedule to see a live performance. Get a refreshing Mojito at the Mojito Lounge. Tour the Clay Hotel on Española Way. Notorious mafia don Al Capone located his gambling ring at The Clay Hotel in the 1930′s. The Clay Hotel’s Old World ambiance is well-suited to the tropical magic of this part of South Beach that runs from Collins Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue.
The hotel dominates the corner of quaint Española Way. The Clay Hotel is nestled in the historic Art Deco District of Miami Beach characterized by the distinctive 1930′s architecture. Don Johnson, Sylvester Stallone and Elton John have all contributed to experienced the special atmosphere of The Clay Hotel. Movies and music videos have been shot at this hotel; including the pilot for Miami Vice and many episodes of the television show.
Spend the day at the beach or play tennis and racquetball at nearby Flamingo Park’s well maintained courts. Cool off in the olympic size swimming pool.
Over the past few years, the bars and restaurants in this area have increasingly become a gathering place for the large Italian community in Miami. There’s an excellent Italian Restaurant next to the Cameo Theater called Osteria del Teatro.
Try some of their authentic Italian Cuisine
Lincoln Road Places (Photo credit: AshtonColeman)
3. Lincoln Road Mall was designed by legendary architect, Morris Lapidus. Lincoln Road is a between Washington Avenue and Alton Road. Originally built in the 1920′s, it is brimming with shops, restaurants and galleries. Have some sweet treats at the Ice Box Cafe at 1657 Michigan Avenue.
Lincoln Road Mall in South Beach (Photo credit: Kwong Yee Cheng)
Lincoln Road (Photo credit: miamism)
The Art Deco district of South Beach in Miami, Florida was developed during the 1930s. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
4. Tour the Deco District in South Beach with outstanding well- preserved buildings. The Miami Beach Architectural District (also known as Old Miami Beach Historic District or theMiami Art Deco District) is a U.S.historic district; designated on May 14, 1979.
The district is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Sixth Street to the south, Alton Road to the west, the Collins Canal and Dade Boulevard to the north. It contains 960 historic buildings.
Vintage T-Bird in front of the Avalon Hotel in South Beach
South Beach Map Above
The Ocean Drive area received Historic District designation thanks to the efforts of Barbara Baer Capitman and her fellow Art-Deco loving Miami Design Preservation League activists.
Berkeley Hotel on Collins in South Beach
You can buy some charming Vintage Posters in South Beach. The Art Deco era was ushered in with the Paris Exposition of 1925 ; the French name is “Les Arts Decoratifs. There are two distinctive design principles that characterize the geometric facade of these buildings: (1) the center element is the most dramatic; (2) the sides of the facade are symmetrical. The Miami Design Preservation League hosts an annual Art Deco Weekend in January. www.mdpl.org.
The Cardozo hotel is another SOuth Beach gem. It was named after the Supreme Court justice and it has been lovingly rehabbed by Gloria and Emilio Estefan in an Asian Motif. Walk into the hotel to admire the vintage poster collection.
I also love the charming Beacon Hotel is where the movie “Scarface” was filmed with Al Pacino. After your Art Deco walking Tour, have a refreshing Miami Vice with a “Rum Floater” (presented in a test tube) at the Clevelander Hotel on Ocean Drive as you listen to live music. Everyone loves the Clevelander!
Have a Miami Vice at the Clevelander Hotel Outdoor Bar Area on Ocean Drive in South Beach
Hotels in South Beach Florida
Lobby at the Beacon Hotel in South Beach
A Vintage Beacon Hotel Poster.
Marlin Hotel - Art Deco architecture on Collins Ave. Miami Beach (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Ocean Drive night South Beach Miami Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Miami Beach - South Beach: Wolfsonian-FIU (Photo credit: wallyg)
Wolfsonian-FIU Entry to Galleries (Photo credit: steve goddard)
Wolfsonian-FIU Foyer (Photo credit: steve goddard)
Interior of Miami Holocaust Memorial - Miami Beach, Florida, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
5. The Holocaust Memorial is the home of Kenneth Triester’s magnificent ”Sculpture of Love and Anguish” at 1933 Meridean Avenue. Holocaust victims of concentration camps climb a out-stretched hand marked with an Auschwitz tattoo. Along the reflecting pond, learn about the story of the Holocaust
Facade of a parking garage spelling out the center's name (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Bayside Marketplace (Photo credit: miamism)
6. Go to Bayside Marketplace. It is a sprawling shopping and entertainment complex with some of the best Vino con Vista views in the city. Dine at Bubba Gump while you’re there.
View of Bayside Marketplace looking from north to south (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
7. Visit the Freedom Tower on Biscayne Boulevard was built in 1925 and modeled after the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain.
The most dramatic building in downtown Miami is located at 600 Biscayne Boulevard. The brick and terra cotta, 17 story structure is 256 feet tall. On September 10, 1979, it entered the National Register of Historic Places.
Gianni Versace mansion, South Beach, Miami, Florida (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
8. The Villa by Barton G at 1114 Ocean Drive is the former Versace Mansion. The Versace Mansion, Casa Casuarina was the residence of late Italianfashion designerGianni Versace; founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A. In 1992, couturier Gianni Versace fell in love with Casa Casuarina. When he purchased the property, he went to battle with local preservationists after he announced his plans to tear down a neighboring hotel so he could build a pool. Versace exquisitely restored, expanded, and embellished the original structure by adding the south wing and pool.
Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach Photo by Jim Rees November 2004 Français : Hôtel File:Fontainebleau Miami Beach Resort.jpg Fontainebleau Hotel à Miami Beach en Floride, architecte Morris Lapidus Photo by Jim Rees November 2004 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Ocean Drive in South beach is packed with outdoor restaurants and cafes. You can check out the food displays that line Ocean Drive.
Food Display at outdoor restaruant in South Beach
Go to Joe’s Stone Crab at 11 Washington. It’s only open from October to May. Another must-do is News Cafe t 800 Ocean Drive. I like Escopazzo for Italian at 1311 Washington or the Forge for steak at 432 Arthur Godfrey Rd. Mango’s Tropical Cafe at 900 Ocean Drive is a Latin live-wire with plenty of music.
Mango in South Beach
Mango in South Beach
Stay and/or dine at the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach Hotel.It is one of my favorite Vino con Vista destinations in Miami Beach! The Fontainebleau is situated on the Atlantic oceanfront at Collins Avenue in the heart of Millionaire’s Row with 12 restaurants and bars; and a 40,000-square-foot spa. It is also the most historic and architecturally significant hotel on Miami Beach. It was designed by Morris Lapidus and opened in 1954. On December 22, 2008, the Fontainebleau was added to the U.S.National Register of Historic Places.
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Celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis broke the integration barrier in Miami Beach at this hotel. Jerry Lewis waged his war against Muscular Dystrophy at this hotel with his Labor Day Marathon fund-raising events.
The hotel was also the setting for Jerry Lewis‘s 1960 comedy film, The Bellboy. Here’s a picture of Jerry Lewis on the diving board at the Fontainbleau pool.
I also love the Betsy Ross Hotel at 1440 Ocean Drive in South Beach. It originally opened in 1942 when America was at war and many local hotels became barracks for soldiers who trained on the beaches before being deployed. The hotel under went a total restoration in 2009 and was renamed The Betsy-South Beach. It has the perfect location with a birds-eye view of Lummas Park in the heart of the Art Deco District. It’s across from the beach and it is a member of the “Small Luxury Hotels of the World.” The hotel has Miami’s only fully outdoor Roof Deck Wellness garden that offers spa treatments. Make reservations @ www.thebetsyhotel.com
adverb. Example sentence:Hai fatto bene a chiamare subito l'ambulanza, il caso è grave!Translation:You did well to call the ambulance, his condition is critical!
