Ca d'Zan

Address:5401 Bay Shore Road
Sarasota, Florida
Tel: (941) 359-5700

Featuring American art, history, and culture exhibits (19th - 20th Century). Specializing in American history.

Open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

$$$ (Expensive)

Cà d'Zan, John and Mable Ringling's Venetian Gothic mansion on Sarasota Bay, is one of America's important historic houses. The imposing structure was originally intended to combine certain architectural features drawn from two of Mrs. Ringling's favorite Venetian hotels: the Danieli and the Bauer-Grünwald. Dwight James Baum of New York supervised final plans and the actual construction. The Ringlings moved into the mansion just before the Holidays in 1926. Bricks, terra cotta "T" blocks and poured concrete were the primary construction materials, and terra cotta was the principal decorative material used (exterior and interior) because the glazed finishes would best withstand Florida's brilliant sun. Mable Ringling personally visited the kilns to make sure the colors - soft red, yellow, blue, green and ivory - were precisely what she wanted. Shipped from Barcelona were thousands of old, red barrel tiles for the roof. The mansion is topped by a 60-foot tower, which the Ringlings kept illuminated when they were in residence.