John and Mable Ringlings' Ca'd'Zan is a palatial Venetian mansion on Sarasota bay. Construction began in 1924 and the house was completed in December 1925 at a cost of $1.5 million. Ca' d'Zan is 200 feet long and over 36,000 square feet, five stories with a full basement, crowned by an 81' tower. Ca'd'Zan was completely restored during the years we lived in Sarasota.
The Ringling Museum was built by John Ringling to house his personal collection of art, including many Old Masters works. The collection rivals some of the best museums of the world. Construction began on the Museum in 1927, but was slowed by the Wall Street stock market crash and Mable Ringling's death in 1929. John Ringling resolved to complete the museum in memory of Mable, so the 21 gallery Museum was completed and opened in October 1931. John Ringling willed his art collection, mansion and estate to the people of the State of Florida at his death in 1936.
Today Ca' d'Zan, the Museum, the Circus Museum, and the grounds are beautifully maintained. We enjoyed a sunny morning walking about, smelling the roses in Mable's Rose Garden, and through several Museum galleries. Lauren was not so impressed! She snoozed through much of our visit.
