Each mansion, from Mediterranean Revival to Neoclassical, carries its own distinctive character.
Floridas architectural diversity is key.
Moorish influences pop up alongside Spanish Revival courtyards, while Art Deco mansions in Miami Beach showcase 20th-century innovation.
Ebyabe via Wikimedia Commons
These estates serve as reminders of Floridas transformation from swamps and frontier towns into a playground for the wealthy.
Video Version
15.
The clapboard exterior is unadorned but effective.
High ceilings and tall, multi-paned windows amplify the sense of space while letting in natural light.
Massive carved wooden doors lead to rooms lined with Cuban tiles, hand-stenciled ceilings, and decorative plasterwork.
The grounds feature terraces, fountains, and a meandering path shaded by native plants.
In 1970, the mansion became part of Bok Tower Gardens, preserving its architectural splendor for future generations.
The mansions 20 rooms are framed by stucco walls, red tile roofing, and elegant wrought iron detailing.
The symmetrical facade is punctuated by arched windows and doorways, giving it a refined yet approachable appearance.
The estates grounds once hosted lush citrus groves and were designed to complement the grandeur of the house.
Fountains, stone pathways, and expansive lawns remain integral to its aesthetic appeal.
In its heyday, the mansion was the site of glamorous parties attended by Floridas elite.
The exterior features elaborate woodwork and polychromatic brick patterns.
Set on ten acres, the estate was once surrounded by orange groves.
The grounds include orchid-filled gardens, a bamboo forest, and a lagoon.
Perched between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Worth Lagoon, its name aptly means Sea-to-Lake.
Donald Trump purchased the property in 1985 and converted it into a private club in 1994.
While its function has evolved, much of its original design remains intact.
The gardens around The Casements were meticulously planned, with palms and magnolias forming a lush canopy.
Its red brick exterior is paired with white accents and symmetrical proportions.
The facade is dominated by a two-story portico supported by Ionic columns, which frame the central entryway.
The houses asymmetrical facade features a wide wraparound porch supported by tapered wooden columns on brick piers.
The homes interior boasts original hardwood floors and high ceilings, with an open floor plan designed for entertaining.
Gamble Mansion Ellenton
The Gamble Mansion in Ellenton, Florida, is an exercise in contradictions.
Deering Estate Miami
The Deering Estate in Miami is a textbook case of architecture playing dress-up.
What sets the Deering Estate apart is its deliberate interplay with the environment.
A stunning but slightly absurd mashup of European romanticism and Floridian pragmatism.
Designed by Carrere and Hastings, the mansion has 75 rooms spread across a sprawling layout.
Step inside, and youre greeted by polished marble, carved woodwork, and ceilings painted to impress.
The Grand Hall is pure theater an open space designed for high society to see and be seen.
Villa Vizcaya Miami
Villa Vizcaya, built between 1914 and 1922, is Miamis Mediterranean Revival masterpiece.
The interiors are no less ambitious with intricately carved ceilings, 15th-century fireplaces, and antique furnishings.
But its the gardens that steal the show.
The overall effect is less stuffy manor house and more artful fantasy.
Ca dZan Sarasota
Ca dZan is a surreal homage to Venetian Gothic architecture planted firmly on Floridas Sarasota Bay.
The interior features a 30-foot-tall living room with a ceiling painted to resemble an Italian Renaissance palazzo.
