In the Venetian language, Ca d'Zan translates to House of John. As in John Ringling, the American circus mogul, art collector and entrepreneur who built the lavish Mediterranean Revival mansion as a winter retreat in the mid-1920s. Located at 5401 Bay Shore Road in Sarasota, Florida, adjacent to Sarasota Bay, it is part of the Ringling complex that includes gardens, a world-class art museum and a circus museum. Completed in 1926 by Owen Burns, Ca d'Zan features an eclectic array of architectural styles, including Venetian Gothic, Italian Renaissance, Moorish and Spanish-inspired elements from different historic periods. The 36,000-square-foot structure boasts a total of 56 rooms. Meant to impress visitors as a showplace for entertaining, the first floor consists mainly of principal rooms used for that purpose, including a reception room, lounging room, breakfast room, dining room, great hall and ballroom. Murals abound throughout the house, most notably a series of 26 canvas paintings that adorn the gilded coffered ceiling of the ballroom that depict Dancers of the Different Nations. Another noteworthy ceiling mural in the third floor playroom depicts scenes from festivities surrounding Venetian Carnivale, including a portrait of John Ringling and his wife Mabel. The Ringlings filled Ca d'Zan with antiques and furnishings purchased at auctions of Gilded Age estates. After Ringling's death in 1936, the house was uninhabited until 1946, when it was opened to the public as part of the State Art Museum of Florida. Ca d'Zan is open daily from 10 to 5 for self-guided and guided tours. Marvel at the massive kitchen and Ringling's second floor exercise room and his secret hideaway.

Wonderful place to wonder around and see so much art and nature. One of my favorites now, love to bring a picnic and just enjoy and slow down from a vacation.

This beautiful, historical mansion is worth seeing from the outside. There is limited access only to the first floor. Second floor was closed off and the outside view from the top floor was only available to members. It is a self guided audio tour that you can download on your phone. Be sure to bring your AirPods or earbuds so you don’t disturb people around you. Not sure it was worth the price of the ticket. Enjoyed viewing the outside more than the inside. The circus museum and the art museum are definitely worth the ticket price. Don’t miss it!

This is my 12th trip back Every time I visit I see something I missed before or had to see again You really have a difficult time grasping the scale of everything. Been. to Flagglers mansion in Palm Beach, and Vizcaya in Miami a d St. Augustine,and all pale in contrast to Ca d Zan.tge grounds, rose garden, monster banyans.

The upstairs was still closed when I visited and the front view of the mansion marred by construction fences. The interior is beautiful with some amazing ceilings, but I was in and out of it pretty fast considering the cost of the ticket.