The magnificent gardens of Vizcaya Museum in Miami

I enjoyed visiting vibrant Miami, but every time I visit cities, I also like to find quieter places to enjoy nature and a little peace and quiet. This time I decided to go visit the Vizcaya Museum, a place I had heard about and that was easily accessible to me via the Metrorail.

Vizcaya Museum is located in the Coconut Grove neighbourhood, south of downtown Miami. From the Vizcaya Metrorail station, I just had to walk a few metres to S Miami Avenue, along which I found the entrance to the museum, which almost gives the impression of diving into another era, far from urban frenzy.

After following a short path in the forest along which many small lizards and squirrels were running, I officially arrived in front of the museum, paid my entrance fee ($25) and was finally able to access this place that already seemed very mysterious and exotic to me.

Villa Vizcaya was built in the early 20th century by businessman James Deering. Deering wanted to preserve part of the native forest on his property, while building a Renaissance-style villa and gardens. He moved into the villa in 1916, using it as his winter residence until his death in 1925.

I started my visit first with the gardens, and after just a few minutes on the property, I was completely blown-away. It’s almost strange to walk through these gardens of Italian and French inspiration, but under the warm sun of Florida. Many of the plants are native and therefore adapted to the tropical climate.

The materials used are also specific to the region. Colombian landscape architect Diego Suarez designed the gardens, using, among other things, limestone from Cuba as well as architectural elements from Florida. In certain areas, the gardens have also been developed in harmony with the ecosystems of the property. Deering valued his privacy and quietude, and the native forest served as a barrier to the city’s activity.

Part of the coastal mangroves have also been preserved, and it seems that on occasion, it is possible to see manatees swimming there. I didn’t see any manatees, but I was able to see a few pelicans flying over the waves of Biscayne Bay. The terrace behind the villa offers a superb view of it, as well as of Key Biscayne, which can be seen offshore.

After spending many minutes exploring the gardens, I entered the villa so that I could tour it. After the sumptuousness of the gardens, the rooms of the villa seemed a little dark and a little bland to me. But I know this is a wrong impression, because the rooms of the villa are richly decorated. Deering was a collector of antiques, and with his interior designer, he traveled Europe in search of paintings, furniture and frescoes to add to his villa.

After Deering’s death, the villa passed into the hands of his nieces, who began selling parts of the estate due to high maintenance costs. In 1954, Miami-Dade County acquired the villa and converted it into a museum, and in 1994 the estate was designated a National Historic Landmark.

However, climate change and the increased frequency of hurricanes complicate the long-term preservation of Villa Vizcaya. Parts of the garden were heavily damaged during recent hurricanes. Numerous restoration works have been undertaken in recent years to better reflect its original design, but also to try to better protect it from the vagaries of nature. Hoping that future generations can continue to appreciate the beauty of these gardens!

I probably would have stayed longer walking the beautiful gardens of Vizcaya, but unfortunately for me, I had a plane to catch to get home. But I left with my head full of magnificent images after this short visit to Miami. I can’t wait to come back!