Jewel of Miami – Vizcaya
TravelOn a recent trip to Miami, I discovered a hidden gem on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove – Vizcaya. As I walked through the gardens which are quite breathtaking it’s easy to forget you are still in Miami. This should definitely be on your places to see in Miami.
The Italian styled villa is the former estate of international businessman, James Deering. His family ran International Harvester which was one of the leading industrial corporations in the United States for most of the 20th century. The company manufactured agricultural and construction equipment, automobiles, commercial trucks, lawn and garden products, and household equipment.
Deering wanted to create a winter home that would incorporate the Renaissance and Baroque European styles. He loved, as well as the art and furnishings he collected on his travels. His idea was to build an estate that would resemble a Tuscan villa. He wanted it to look and feel as if it had been around for centuries, with different eras incorporated into and around the design of the home.
During construction it is believed whopping 10% of Miami’s population worked at Vizcaya. What now covers 50 acres, used to comprise 180 acres, much like a Tuscan farm. Many would agree that the surrounding gardens are one of the best examples of Italian garden design and architecture in the United States, using only plants adaptable to Miami’s subtropical climate. Though meant to look old and historical, Vizcaya was built with all the modern conveniences of the 20th century, such as central heat, elevators and a phone system. It was a place of many social gatherings and lavish parties.
The villa was built primarily between 1914 and 1922, at a cost of $15 million. Today that price tag would hover around $9 billion or more in my opinion. The house was designed to take full advantage of its location on Biscayne Bay. Deering wanted Vizcaya to be approached and seen from the sea. The east façade on the bay is the most monumental and the only symmetrical one, it opens onto a wide terrace that descends toward the water.
Vizcaya’s European-inspired gardens are among the most elaborate in the United States. Reminiscent of gardens created in 17th and 18th century Italy and France. The overall landscape design is conceived as a series of rooms.
Today, Vizcaya is a National Historic Landmark and accredited museum. An oasis of beauty, serenity and lush landscapes, miraculously preserved just south of Miami’s modern skyline. It’s a jewel among Miami’s skyscrapers and subdivisions. A place you can get lost for hours and it feels like you’ve been taken back in time as you walk around Deering’s home & gardens.
It is currently governed by Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust. We are grateful that it remains a public place that all can experience and enjoy thanks to James Deering’s vision and the Deering family’s generosity and commitment to preserving that vision.
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