Villa Vizcaya History, Travel Information, Hotels, Fare, Facts And More
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PERSONAL INFORMATION
NAME
Villa Vizcaya
COUNTRY
America
ADDRESS
3251 S Miami Ave, Miami, FL 33129, United States
VILLA VIZCAYA PICTURE
More Information
About Villa Vizcaya
Villa Vizcaya or Vizcaya Museum and gardens as it?s referred to now is the former villa and estate of businessman James Deering. It is open to the public and is appropriate for those who might want to get away from crowded places and bars. One can explore the beautiful halls and stunning Italian Gardens of the Estate.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Villa Vizcaya
- The villa was constructed sometime between the years 1914 and 1922, costing about $15 million. Its European aesthetic is a mix of French and Italian garden layouts and elements implemented in Cuban limestone stonework.
- The original was spread around 180 acres which included the villa, formal gardens, recreational amenities, expansive lagoon gardens, potager and grazing fields, and a village services compound. Deering used the villa as his winter residence up until his death in the year 1925.
- It is a lovely fusion between different European and Caribbean architectural styles, tailored to function in a subtropical environment. The construction of the Vizcaya Villa was commissioned by James Deering, a successful businessman from the Midwest in the year 1908, after retiring as the vice-president of the International Harvester Company.
- In 1935, hurricanes hit South Florida hard, causing great damage to the main house as well as the surrounding village and also the gardens. It was after this damage and the eventual repair and restoration that the estate was turned into a museum. Later, in 1952, the estate was sold the Miami-Dade County for $1 million and converted into the Dade-County Art Museum.
- Visitors can see and appreciate the beautiful art pieces and antiquities within the villa that were donated to the Museum by the heirs of Deering. The artwork and jewelry within the Museum are treasures to behold.
- In 1987, the villa was the venue where President Ronald Reagan received Pope John Paul II on his first visit to Miami. And in the year 1994, the site was declared a National Historic Landmark.
- The villa was a victim of a heist job in 1971. 3 people from New York raided and stole $1.5 million in works of art, silver, and jewelry. The thieves were caught only three days later in New York City, but only a small percentage of what had been stolen was ever recovered.
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