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THINGS TO DO
RESTAURANTS |
Miami - Whether you're into sports, sunshine or salsa, Miami sizzles all year long with exciting entertainment venues and attractions, world-class hotels and restaurants, great beaches and a nightlife that never sleeps. While South Beach, full of chic nightclubs and pastel-hued buildings, gets all the press, other sections of Miami are offer culture, recreation and more. Explore the Art Deco District or take the kids to the zoo. At night chill out at any of the area's cool bars and nightclubs.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Today one of South Florida's leading attractions,
Vizcaya Museum and Gardens
provides a window to both the history of Miami, graced by the villa since
it completion in 1916; and to the Italian Renaissance, represented in the
Museum's architecture. Its art and furnishings portray 400 years of
European history. Vizcaya
was originally an estate of 180 acres, designed to resemble a typical
Italian villa, self-sufficient, with a dairy, poultry house, mule stable,
greenhouse, and staff residences. The house and gardens are the creation
of three architects: F. Burrall Hoffman designed the buildings; Diego
Suarez planned the gardens; and Paul Chalfin was the general artistic
supervisor for every phase of the project. Together they created an estate
that looked as if it had been lived in by succeeding generations of the
same family with each generation adding their own period furnishings of
the time. All of the decorative elements including furniture, lighting
fixtures, doors and fireplaces were purchased by Deering on shopping
expeditions throughout Europe. The house took two years to build. The
formal gardens were not completed until 1921 due to the outbreak of World
War I. During construction, 1,000 workers were employed, representing
nearly 10% of Miami's population.
After
Deering's death in 1925, a minimal staff maintained the house. The
hurricane of 1926, which devastated much of Miami, severely damaged the
estate. In 1952, Miami-Dade County purchased Vizcaya and opened it as a
museum. Extensive restoration has brought the house and the remaining 50
acres back to the way they appeared in Deering's day.
Vizcaya, possessing national significance to the history of the United
States, has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Vizcaya is
accredited by the American Association of Museums. In
1998, Miami-Dade County Commissioners officially granted governing
authority to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust. |
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens MIAMI
Built in 1916 as a winter retreat, this lavish villa is a tribute to the
Italian Renaissance. The museum contains much of the original furnishings
and artwork, and is surrounded by lush, formal gardens.
Nearly
200,000 people visit Vizcaya each year including some of the world's
leading dignitaries such as President Reagan, Pope John Paul II, Queen
Elizabeth of England and King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain. In
1994, the historic Summit of the Americas was held at Vizcaya with
President Clinton and the 34 leaders of the Western Hemisphere.