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.
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Overview
Location: Miami
Parking: 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.
Directions
Vizcaya is just off Biscayne Blvd south of downtown Miami. Follow the signs to 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami.
About the Gardens
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.
There are 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.
Some have grown to champion size, including the National Champion redberry stopper and spicewood.
Explore More!
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See our photos of Vizcaya
Nearby Adventures
More worth exploring while you’re in this area.
Crandon Park With two miles of oceanfront on Biscayne Bay, Crandon Park melds a classic Miami beach experience with an immersion in nature.
Matheson Hammock Park A tropical retreat along the coast of Coral Gables, Matheson Hammock Park has two distinct sides: a wild slice of the ancient Miami Hammock and a waterfront with a man-made atoll on Biscayne Bay.
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Established in 1938 as one of the world’s largest collections of tropical plants, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is an integral part of the history of Florida botany and of Coral Gables.
Pinecrest Gardens Established in the 1930s as a tropical tourist attraction, Parrot Jungle, this tropical forest in Pinecrest has deep roots, if you will, showcasing both native and exotic tropical species.