MomSkoop
Craving the romance of Italy but can’t hop on a transatlantic flight? Florida has you covered. From Venetian-inspired architecture to Renaissance-style villas, the Sunshine State offers a surprising slice of European elegance. Pack your bags for a taste of la dolce vita without ever leaving the country.
1. Venice, Florida
Picture a town that shares more than just a name with its Italian namesake. Venice, Florida brings Mediterranean magic to the Gulf Coast with architecture that looks like it sailed straight across the Atlantic. Wander through streets lined with arched bridges and pastel buildings that echo the romance of the real Venice.
The downtown area captures that European plaza feel with sidewalk cafes and cobblestone-style walkways. Canals wind through neighborhoods, adding authentic waterway charm.
You’ll find yourself forgetting which continent you’re actually on as you stroll past terra-cotta roofs and Venetian-style lamp posts that glow at sunset.
2. The Vizcaya Museum & Gardens – Miami
Stepping onto Vizcaya’s grounds feels like teleporting to a Tuscan estate. This Italian Renaissance masterpiece was built as a winter retreat but became Miami’s crown jewel of European elegance.
Carved stone fountains bubble throughout polished gardens that cascade toward the bay in perfectly terraced layers.
Inside, every room tells a story of old-world luxury. Ornate ceilings soar above marble floors while gilded furniture sits beneath crystal chandeliers. The villa’s architects studied estates near Lake Como to recreate that timeless Italian grandeur, and boy, did they nail it with breathtaking attention to detail.
3. The Ringling Ca’ d’Zan – Sarasota
John Ringling wanted a palace worthy of Venice’s Grand Canal, so he built one right on Sarasota Bay. Ca’ d’Zan, meaning “House of John” in Venetian dialect, drips with Gothic romance and marble extravagance. Its waterfront location mirrors those famous palazzos where gondolas once docked centuries ago.
Balconies offer sweeping bay views that rival anything along the Adriatic coastline. Intricate marble detailing covers archways and columns throughout the mansion’s five stories.
Walking through feels like stepping into a Venetian merchant prince’s home, minus the crowds of tourists snapping selfies on actual Italian bridges nearby.
4. Coral Gables – Miami Area
Nicknamed “The City Beautiful,” Coral Gables reads like a love letter to Mediterranean design. Developer George Mercer crafted entire neighborhoods that channel Italian villa vibes with coral-hued buildings and dramatic colonnades.
Fountains splash in public plazas where palm trees sway instead of cypress, but the European soul remains strong.
The Venetian Pool stands as the neighborhood’s most famous treasure—a swimming hole literally carved from a coral rock quarry. Its waterfalls, caves, and Venetian-style bridges create an aquatic fantasy. Stroll any street and you’ll spot architectural details borrowed straight from Italian coastal towns.
5. St. Augustine’s Flagler College (Ponce de León Hotel)
Henry Flagler spared no expense when building this hotel-turned-college in America’s oldest city. Spanish Renaissance meets Italian grandeur in a building that could easily sit in Florence’s historic center.
Rich European detailing covers every surface, from hand-painted ceilings to imported marble columns. The rotunda’s stained glass and intricate tilework showcase craftsmanship rarely seen in modern construction.
Walking these halls feels like attending university in a Renaissance palace, which honestly beats most dorm room experiences by miles.
6. Boca Raton Resort & Club – Boca Raton
Architect Addison Mizner transformed a sleepy coastal town into a Mediterranean paradise when he designed this iconic resort. Terracotta roofs crown buildings that stretch along perfectly manicured grounds where Italian-style gardens bloom year-round.
Dramatic archways frame views of courtyards that could easily grace a villa outside Rome.
The old-world ambiance hits you immediately upon arrival. Wrought-iron details accent doorways while fountain waters trickle through open-air corridors. Mizner studied European estates extensively, and his Italian influences shine through in every design choice, creating a luxury experience that transcends typical beachfront hotels completely.
7. Addison Mizner’s Historic Buildings – Palm Beach
Palm Beach owes its architectural soul to one man’s obsession with Mediterranean beauty. Addison Mizner dotted the island with structures that blend Italian Revival charm and coastal elegance. Ornate courtyards peek out from behind walls covered in bougainvillea, while wrought-iron balconies add romantic touches to pastel facades.
Tiled roofs in warm earth tones cap buildings that look transplanted from the Italian Riviera. Walking Worth Avenue means encountering Mizner’s genius at every turn—archways leading to hidden gardens, hand-painted tiles decorating doorways, and architectural flourishes that whisper of faraway Mediterranean shores without requiring a passport or jet lag.
8. The Breakers – Palm Beach
Modeled after Renaissance palaces in Rome and Florence, The Breakers doesn’t do subtle. This oceanfront resort screams Italian luxury from its marble-columned lobby to its hand-painted ceiling frescoes. Architects literally traveled to Italy to study palatial designs before recreating that grandeur on Florida’s coastline with stunning accuracy.
Grand hallways stretch beneath vaulted ceilings adorned with artwork that rivals museum collections. Marble everything—floors, columns, staircases—creates an atmosphere of timeless elegance.
Walking through feels less like checking into a hotel and more like becoming temporary royalty in a palazzo where Medici family members might have once hosted lavish parties centuries ago.