Europe in Miami: Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

A visit to Miami is incomplete until you have visited the magic kingdom called Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Exhibiting beautiful Mediterranean architecture, this Italian-inspired complex was built between 1914 and 1922 by industrialist James Deering as his winter estate in Florida. Inspired  by European decorations and interiors, Vizcaya Museum today is considered one of Miami’s top tourist spots.

By Suvarna Kale

@suru6444 and @paintmyjourney2

On a bright sunny Sunday, I set out to explore this beautiful European estate. I parked my car in the kingdom’s parking space and proceeded to buy tickets which were around $25.

As you enter the palace, you realize that the structure is divided into a main house, gardens, and a village. I started my tour by exploring the main house which has timeless collections from the 20th century back to Pompeii. I entered the main area which is the courtyard and enjoyed the Biscayne Bay’s views. Elaborate interiors, intricate pillars, and astonishingly lavish rooms and furnishings. The south facade opens into evergreen beautiful gardens and on the first floor, there are library, music, and dining rooms surrounding the courtyard. It was amazing to feel the grandness of the place and I kept imagining the extremely elite and perhaps royal lifestyle of the Deering family back then.

The next area I set out to explore were the gardens, a huge landscape of lush greenery. The gardens are made of low hedges and in a specific shaped pattern and include a secret garden, theatre garden, maze garden, and a very relaxing fountain garden.

I then walked by the most iconic tea house which has been featured in a lot of magazines and newspapers. The picturesque scenic view of the bay made me feel like a mini-Venice with remains of the ship in the middle of the water.

Finally, I sat in the cafe with my beer and was treasuring the entire presence of this magnificent piece. If you adore architectural pieces and would love to get a feel of Europe in the heart of Miami, Vizcaya Museum is a place to visit.