Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, Miami

A watermark painting — Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, 3251 S Miami Ave, Miami. Illustration: Nina Fuga

(Image credit: Nina Fuga)

Not what you’d expect to find, even in outer Miami. This palatial house on Biscayne Bay was built by industrialist James Deering with no expense spared in the early 20th century, but modelled on an Italian Renaissance villa. Set in luscious gardens with 400-year-old trees and an exceptional orchid collection, its 30-odd rooms offer a mad romp through grand, though not necessarily accurate, European decorating styles. They are filled with precious artworks, objets and furniture that range from Roman artefacts and Renaissance tapestries to historic Chinese porcelain and 20th century paintings and sculpture. Warning: after a visit, you will bore everyone you meet, insisting just how much they need to visit it too.

Interior view of an museum — Ceiling inside Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.

INFORMATION
Website

ADDRESS

3251 S Miami Ave
Miami

TOPICS

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.