Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:5401 Bay Shore Rd.
Sarasota, Florida
Tel:
(941) 359-5700
Situated on a 66 acre estate on Sarasota Bay, the, John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art features 21 galleries showcasing European paintings, Cypriot antiques, Asian, American and contemporary art. To top it off, there are acres of parkland and gardens with palm trees among a variety of exotic and native plants, and Ca d'Zan (House of John), the Ringling's waterfront mansion which soon became the epicenter of cultural life in Sarasota. With its Venetian Gothic palaces, lavish parties were often held in the mansion as orchestras serenaded guests from the Ringling yacht to the marble terrace. The estate's Circus Museums display the largest miniature circus, costumes, wagons and other artifacts chronicling the history of the Circus. And you won't want to miss the estate's Mable Ringling's Rose Garden overlooking Sarasota Bay.
The museum houses the Treviso Restaurant which serves a blend of classic Italian and American favorites, and the Banyan café offers a lighter menu. The museum's gift shop sells photos, prints, ornaments, books and even circus merchandise, including a blinking clown nose!
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is located at the south western tip of the Sarasota Airport. From Route 301/N Washington Boulevard, head west onto University Pkwy. You can also ride Route 41 to the parkway and head west. Head into Ringling Plaza and you'll see the museum straight ahead.
From John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art:
Located on a 66-acre estate on Sarasota Bay, The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art was established in 1927 as the legacy of John Ringling (1866-1936) and his wife, Mable (1875 to 1929). Recognized as the official State Art Museum of Florida, the Museum of Art offers 21 galleries of European paintings as well as Cypriot antiquities, Asian Art, American paintings, and contemporary art.