Florida is home to some pretty fascinating places, many of which are open to the public for exploration. There is nothing more exciting sometimes then visiting a new attraction in Florida and learning all about the history and secrets that once lived within the walls. While many people weren’t aware that they could spend a night in one of the most famous mansions in the entire state, soon they’ll be clamoring to stay and learn about the secret tunnels and sordid past this place holds.
Some say it’s haunted, others say it’s cursed, but really, this fascinating mansion in Florida is unlike anything that’s ever been built in the state.
The Villa Casa Casuarina was built in the 1930s by a young man named Alden Freeman, who was heir to the Standard Oil fortune.
This gargantuan mansion had a total of 24 apartments inside, and through the years was renovated to have so much more, including an elevator, a courtyard with a lily pond, and a very special Kneeling Aphrodite statue at the entrance.
In the 1990s, famed designer Gianni Versace fell in love with the Spanish architecture of the home (and the Aphrodite statue) and bought it, plus the lot next door in order to put in the garden, swimming pool, and South wing.
With $32 million dollars in renovations, the historic mansion soon became unlike anything of its kind in Miami Beach, and of course, became the center of a tragic scandal when Versace was shot and killed on the front steps just five years later.
Today, The Villa Casa Casuarina has become part of Barton G. Weiss’s operation, and now allows visitors to spend the night in this secret space which was closed off to the public for many years.
Roam the halls of The Villa Casa Casuarina and see for yourself if the secrets are true regarding the underground tunnels, trap doors, secret codes, and time capsules hidden inside.
Your stay at the former Versace Mansion will include free WiFi, free use of bicycles, a free full breakfast, and of course, direct access to the beach across the street.
Or you can just spend the whole trip within the walls of the mansion, swimming in The Thousand Mosaic pool or indulging in continental cuisine at Gianni’s at the Villa restaurant.
Rent any one of the beautifully decorated rooms for the weekend and get firsthand knowledge about the history of the "cursed" mansion and just how many secrets it holds.
Address: 1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139
To learn more about The Villa Casa Casuarina and to reserve a night of accommodations, visit the website or Facebook Page. Did you know the history behind this famed mansion? Sound off in the comments section!
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