The grandiose home of industrialist James Deering may be the star attraction, but the gardens of Vizcaya rival those of any formal estate. Designed by Paul Chafin and Diego Suarez and set with a sweeping view of Biscayne Bay, the Italianate formal gardens incorporate classical elements such as labyrinths, grottoes, reflecting pools, and a waterfall.
Resources
Overview
Location: Miami
Lat-Lon: 25.747030, -80.210496
Fees: $6 ages 6-12, $18 ages 13-61, $12 seniors, $10 students and wheelchair-bound
Open: 9:30-4:30 daily except Christmas and Thanksgiving
No food or drinks allowed as they are sold on site. No interior photography. No pets.
Location
Vizcaya is just off Biscayne Blvd south of downtown Miami. Follow the signs to 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami.
Details
It’s a joy to lose yourself in the complexity, to find hidden treasures like seashells embedded in grotto ceilings with faux stalactites at their mouths, to discover classical statuary and lush beds of native ferns. On the north side of the house, the David A. Klein Orchidarium presents the finest in blooming orchids.
The remnant tropical forest through which you enter the estate includes tropical trees at the northern extent of their range, growing to champion size, including the National Champion redberry stopper and spicewood.