Ca' d'Zan is a mansion in Sarasota of one of the richest people in America in the early 20s, the famous circus performer and circus owner, as well as art collector John Ringling. The building was built in the Venetian Baroque style. Its furnishings and architecture mimic the Doge's Palace in Venice and are reminiscent of the stately Gatsby House from The Great Gatsby movie of the same name. It is open for tourists from 10:00 am to 05:00 pm.
A visit to this historical place is worth any tourist who has come to Florida and Miami.
Ca' d'Zan history
The Ringling Mansion was built as the family's winter residence in 1926. Here in Florida, John Ringling set up the circus' winter quarters as a huge zoo. So in 1927 in Sarasota you could see the classes of circus performers and the training of animals in a large open arena.
The original cost of building the estate was $1.6 million. After inflation, the price of Ca' d'Zan in Sarasota rose to 22 million. Later, famous feature films were filmed in the luxurious mansion. For example — "Great Expectations" with Nora Dinsmore.
Since 1982, Ringling Manor has been designated a Historic Site located in the Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places of the United States of America. Today the museum is operated by Florida State University.
Sarasota has become the center of the American circus and a Florida tourist attraction.
Architectural solutions
The luxurious mansion rises on the very shore of the bay, on the Sarasota waterfront. Its architecture reflects the Venetian doges and the towers of Manhattan. The mansion was designed by renowned New York architect Dwight James Baum and implemented by Sarasota-based developer Owen Burns. The mansion has 41 rooms and 15 bathrooms.
Today it is open to visitors without payment — the first floor of the house with front doors, a dining room and a kitchen. On the second floor there are guest rooms and bedrooms, which can be accessed for a separate fee. The exposition of the halls shows the rich decoration of the house, household items. There is a rose garden next to the building. Roses were handled by John Ringling's wife, Mabel.
In addition to the mansion, on the territory of the complex you can see two museums — the Circus and the Art Museum. Being a rich man, John Ringling collected works of artists, acquiring them on foreign travels. Today, his collection is available for viewing in the art museum, next to the mansion. Here you can see paintings by Paolo Veronese and Diego Velazquez.
The Circus Museum displays circus exhibits and the history of the development of acrobatic art. There is a giant tent mockup and interactive exhibits where you can try yourself as a circus performer. After inspecting the house, you can go to the sea and sit in wicker chairs under umbrellas. Or take a walk along the paths of a beautiful park.
American Butler organizes tours to any country in the world. Unique visits include the Ca' d'Zan mansion in Sarasota, part of the Ringling family's estate complex.
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