Vizcaya

The grounds are now owned by Dade County and they are making a valiant effort to preserve this piece of early Miami history.  So many first were part of it's creation.  This was the winter home of James Deering and had so many modern, for the day, innovations such as electric lights, an elevator, central vacuum system and much more.  Very progressive for 1916.  Deering made his money in large farm equipment and like many millionaires of his time became a collector of beautiful things.  He actually toured Europe for two years collecting pieces that he wanted, assembled them in a warehouse then hired an architect to build a house to suit the pieces.  It took a team of three people to bring it all together.  The building architect, the landscape architect and the creative overseer.  It is a spectacular example of what time, money and talent can create.  We paid for the guided tour and it was worth every cent.  Our guide was knowledgeable and very engaging.  David tolerated it all nicely.  For me, this is why I cruise, to visit unique and beautiful places.

The modern 1916 kitchen.

Some of the ceilings and walls were brought in but they weren't large enough
to cover the entire space for the artistic director hired talented local artisans
to match the wall coverings, ceilings and even some furniture.  Deering
insisted on complete symmetry so if a wall had a point of interest the opposite wall also had
to have a matching piece on the other side.

Our tour guide in front of one of the gates Deering wanted the house designed
around.  It's height drove the dimensions of the house.

The details are overwhelming in their scale and number.

These whimsical little dragons are all over the courtyard pillars.  They are
holders for the drapery tiebacks.

The formal front of the house facing Biscayne Bay.  Vizcaya is the Spanish
version of Biscayne.

The part of the swimming pool out of the sun.

 Deering was really into Venice and all along his waterfront, he had
these poles reminiscent of the ones along Venetian canals.  At one point,
he imported a canal boat and trained a gondolier.

100+ years of Florida weather have not been kind to the statuary.  Even
pitted, you can imagine it's glory.

I was taken with the ornate wrought iron screen door to the left and the painted
wallpaper in the formal dining room.  The room also had a grand view
of the gardens but the sun was right where it shouldn't be for a picture, sorry.

Deering was really into the sailing ships that Columbus used on his
voyages.  The ships are part of many of the house's decorations.

The side of the house facing the gardens.

This was a back stairway leading from the third floor all the way to the basement/pool level.

The main stairwell leading to the courtyard.  The house was built in the typical
villa style, an open central courtyard with the house built around.

Before the terrible damage cause by Hurricane Irma, this was a stone barge
set just off the house.  It was spacious enough for parties under the stars.

The outside part of the swimming pool.

Each of the guest rooms were decorated in a particular style.  Anything from
Oriental to different periods of European geography and history.  Each room
of the house was a lesson in itself.

The architect really liked seahorses so they were also incorporated
into may design aspects of the house.  This weather vane was also
a working anemometer.  The readouts were in the courtyard.  Deering
was an avid yachtsman and like to keep an eye out of good motoring weather.