{"id":4842,"date":"2019-10-28T05:58:46","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T10:58:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=4842"},"modified":"2019-11-05T10:41:04","modified_gmt":"2019-11-05T15:41:04","slug":"vizcayas-traditional-mediterranean-architecture-decor-offer-much-to-visitors","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/?page_id=4842","title":{"rendered":"Vizcaya’s traditional Mediterranean architecture, decor offer much to visitors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Posted October 28, 2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By ANYI ZHANG<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ira Shapiro, a volunteer tour guide at the\nVizcaya Museum and Gardens, takes a look at the people who are ready for the\ntour, he smiles as he is ready to tell the story about the Vizcaya to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just love this beautiful place, the\narchitecture and the beautiful decoration. I also enjoy meeting new people and\ntelling them stories about the museum,\u201d said Shapiro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The small garden located right in front of the main entrance at the Vizcaya (Photos by Anyi Zhang).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Shapiro has worked at the Vizcaya for over 10 years back in the 1980s, he left for family business and returned three years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally built as the private winter home of American businessman James Deering in the early 1900s, Vizcaya is now a National Historic Landmark and an accredited county museum, located in the Coconut Grove area of Miami, overlooking Biscayne Bay. Described as \u201cthe finest private house ever built in America\u201d and \u201ca jewel among Miami\u2019s skyscrapers and subdivisions,” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens was founded by James Deering in 1910, the vice president of his family\u2019s business, and the leading manufacturer in the United States around 1900. In 1908, Deering retired and began planning a winter retreat in Miami to escape Chicago\u2019s cold winters. After several trips to Europe to seek inspiration, Deering teamed up with the design director Paul Chalfin, and the architect F. Burrall Hooffman, designed this beautiful place in the Mediterranean Revival style, with Baroque elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Vizcaya was conceived as a modern and subtropical interpretation of an eighteenth-century Italian villa, in particular the country estates of the Veneto region of northern Italy. The designers adapted traditional Mediterranean architectural styles to the subtropical climate with significant sensibility for environmental consideration. The main area of the house is the Courtyard, the first floor contains several reception rooms, the Library, the music room, and the dining room surround the Courtyard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The ceiling and floor are in geometric forms, and they rhyme with each other in neoclassic style. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The main house contains antique artworks and furnishings collected in Europe and the U.S., along with items specifically created for Vizcaya. It also features innovative and advanced technologies in the early 1900s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second floor contains Deering\u2019s personal suite of rooms and guest bedrooms as well as a breakfast room and the kitchen. The interiors of the Main House were meant to suggest the passing of time, and the layered accumulation of artifacts and memories. The rooms were designed around objects acquired in Italy and assembled into new compositions by Chalfin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mary Bethfell, a visitor from West\nVirginia, cruised from Barcelona with her husband to Miami. She was impressed\nby the history and decoration and by the beauty of Vizcaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been on my\nFlorida bucket list for a long time. Vizcaya is a feast for the eyes if you\nappreciate historical architecture, art and gardens. It\u2019s very secluded and\naway from the hustle of Miami. I loved the amazing breakwater in the form of a\nsculpted ship in Biscayne Bay at the back of the house,\u201d said Bethfell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vizcaya took two years to build during the\ngolden era of the United States in the 1910s. What\u2019s special about the Vizcaya\nis that, everything is original, they all exist for a reason and they rhyme\nwith each other in Neoclassic style, the Greek style of art that applies simplicity of geometric forms, dramatic use of\ncolumns, and a preference for blank walls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI enjoy the beauty and history of the museum,\u201d\nsaid Santiago Guichon, a visual artist from Uruguay. \u201cI\u2019m also seeking for\ninspiration for my artwork upon my visit today, this place has great historical value in interior decorations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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James Deering’s library and personal work space on the first floor at the Vizcaya Museum.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Before entering the museum, visitors are expected to see a small garden full of greens located right in front of the main door, with a few arches surrounded with European designs. Travelers will see two parts of the museum after entering the gate, North Arcade to the left, and  South Arcade to the right. The main house contains 34 decorated rooms in total, with a variety of collections including European antiques and paintings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step outside, travelers can enjoy the view of Vizcaya\u2019s European-inspired gardens. <\/strong>The center is dominated by low hedges and flowers in a geometric arrangement. Beyond that are the evocative Secret Garden, the intimate Theater Garden, the playful Maze Garden and the once-watery domain of the Fountain Garden with some century-old plants. James Deering took consideration of the humid weather and heat in Miami; therefore, horticultural innovations were common at Vizcaya, including the use of subtropical plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie Vanghn came all\nthe way from Michigan with her best friend to visit the Vizcaya again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The music room at the Vizcaya, which contains antique artworks and furnishings collected in Europe and the U.S. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had to come back, it felt like it if I was in Europe again. It\u2019s a must see for\nvisitors who have a few days in Miami and want to admire this Italianate\nmansion. Teleport yourself back to the life of the wealthy industrialists from\na hundred year ago,\u201d said Vanghn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some employees who work at the\nVizcaya chose to come back after years to promote the awareness of the Vizcaya\nMuseum, and to spread the\nhistory and story of this amazing historical site. Brad Crandall, a security\nstaff who\u2019s originally from Michigan, chose to work at Vizcaya due to its\nexotic atmosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI studied architecture and design in college, I\nenjoy the history and art at the Vizcaya,\u201d said Crandall, after his surgery, he\nwas looking to find a job that\u2019s less stressful, and at Vizcaya, he overlooks\nthe Biscayne Bay at work, and feels like if he was home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kenneth Maya, a Visitor Service associate, has been working at the Vizcaya for almost two years, says weekends are usually busier at Vizcaya, especially in the afternoon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The view outside of the courtyard overlooking Biscayne Bay. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI love working here, attending visitors while\nenjoying the peaceful environment here and beautiful architecture. I can\u2019t be\nhappier.\u201d Said Maya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 300,000 people enjoy Vizcaya each year through daytime admissions, educational programs and special events. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is still achieving its value to connect with the past, understand the present, and to shape the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If You Go<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Address<\/strong>: 3251 S. Miami Ave., Miami, FL, 33129<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directions<\/strong>: Vizcaya is located in the north Coconut Grove in Miami, overlooking Biscayne Bay, one mile from downtown Miami and 10 miles from South Miami Beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Telephone<\/strong>: 305-250-9133<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Website<\/strong>:http:\/\/vizcaya.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hours<\/strong>: Vizcaya is open Wednesday through Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. (Monday is usually the best time to go since it\u2019s less crowded)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admission<\/strong>: $22 for adults (18+), $15 for teens (13-17), $10 for children (6-12), $16 for seniors (65 and older with ID), $15 for college students (with ID), and $10 for visitors with wheelchairs, free for children who are 5 and under, military veterans, and active duty U.S. military personnel only with ID. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facilities<\/strong>: Vizcaya Caf\u00e9 and Shop (located on the north side of the Main House, next to the swimming pool, where visitors can enjoy some food and beverages and shop for souvenir.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parking<\/strong>: Vizcaya offers free parking for automobiles. If the main parking lot fills up, parking is available across the street at Vizcaya Village. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transportation<\/strong>: Metrorail, bus and Uber are available. The Citi Bike has a station located at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens off on South Miami Avenue on SW 32nd <\/sup>Road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disabled access<\/strong>: The first floor of Vizcaya’s main house is mostly accessible to visitors using wheelchairs. The center portions of the formal gardens are accessible but visitors should be aware that the paths are primarily dirt and gravel, rather than paved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maps and guidebooks<\/strong>: Guidebooks in English are available for purchase for $3 at the ticket booth or caf\u00e9 and shop. Maps in various languages are available at no charge at the ticket booth and Main House. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clothing: <\/strong>Bathing suits and sheer clothing are not permitted. Footwear is also required while walking around the house and gardens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Posted October 28, 2019 By ANYI ZHANG Ira Shapiro, a volunteer tour guide at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, takes a look at the people who are ready for the tour, he smiles as he is ready to tell the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":168,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"sidebar-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4842","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4842"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4842\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4851,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4842\/revisions\/4851"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/travelwriting\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}