Ca' d'Zan

Absolutely stunning! Ca’ d’Zan is a hidden gem that transports you straight to the opulence of the 1920s. From the moment you step onto the grounds, the mansion’s grandeur and intricate detail take your breath away. The Venetian-inspired architecture, the stained glass windows, and the sweeping views of Sarasota Bay are unforgettable. Walking through the rooms feels like stepping into a time capsule of elegance and luxury. The entire Ringling complex is impressive, but Ca’ d’Zan is truly the crown jewel. The self-guided tour was easy to follow and allowed us to take in every detail at our own pace. The staff were knowledgeable and passionate, adding depth to the experience. Whether you're a history buff, architecture lover, or just looking for something beautiful and unique, this is a must-visit. Five stars without a doubt!

DONT WASTE YOUR TIME RIGHT NOW. I drove over an hour to see this house, which you have to pay extra for. It is completely under construction. On the website they mention you can’t access the second floor right now, but nothing about the whole house being a construction zone. Not only do you only get to see half the house on the inside, you can’t even enjoy its beauty on the outside. Would not have drove and spent the money to check out if they would have been transparent on the state of the house. There is also a fence around the back side which is where everyone takes pictures. They should have reduced prices right now or mention on the website the whole house is wrapped in green plastic and metal fencing.

The history of the place is one thing and is definitely worth listening to the audio tour. But the craftsmanship of the building, in and out along with the furniture and everything else. Just wow. The view of the water is absolutely astonishing too. Was sad only the first floor was open due to restorations. However, it just gives us an even better reason to come back in the future! And we plan to!

This a unique, historical and amazing place that everyone should visit. The architecture is phenomenal, the view of the Sarasota Bay and the surroundings areas so beautiful. The food in the restaurant was excellent!!

Had such a fun experience exploring the Ringling Museum and the beautiful Ringling house (Ca' d'Zan)! The museum offers a great mix of art, history, and circus flair—it’s easy to spend hours wandering through the exhibits. The mansion itself is absolutely stunning, with gorgeous views of Sarasota Bay that are just breathtaking. It’s clear they’re still working to recover fully from the hurricane damage, but even so, the experience was wonderful. Hoping everything is restored soon—it’s truly a Florida gem worth visiting!

It was really nice! Beautiful view of Sarasota Bay and lovely building. It is $15 on top of general admission to see the first floor and I did find the viewing area a bit small. I wish I could have seen the second floor then it may have been five stars. Still really beautiful though!

If you're visiting The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, definitely purchase a ticket to explore the Ca' d'Zan as well. The architecture, stained glass windows, history, and the views from the building are incredible. They have a self-guided walkthrough tour playlist that you can listen to on your phone while walking through the home. You really do get a glimpse into John and Mable’s taste and lifestyle while touring the glamorous property. It's a sight to see!

Beautiful building. I was only allowed to see the first floor however check website in case the ac is fixed and you can see more the rest of the compound is also very interesting.

We were so excited to be able to tour The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art as well as their historic and exquisite mansion, the Ca' d'Zan. Ca' d'Zan means "House of John." Most people remember The Ringling Brothers and the Barnum & Bailey Circus when they were children. Now you can go back in time and relive your childhood menories at the Circus Museum that is located at this huge property. Besides the Circus Museum, there is also the amazing and very valuable Museum of Art collections from the 1600-2000s from Europe. Venice, Italy, was the Ringlings' favorite city to visit, and they brought back many treasures from there and displayed them here at their mansion. The mansion is decorated with European antiques. There are 55 rooms altogether. Eventually, the Ringling legacy was given to the people of Florida. People from all over the world visit the Museum of Art, Circus Museum, Ca' d'Zan (the mansion), and Bayfront Gardens (statues) There are tours, and the prices are listed on their website for the different tours. The prices range from $25-$75, depending on what you wish to see. In our opinion, this was one of the most elegant, breath-taking museums we have ever visited. We hope to go back again next year.

One of the architectural gems of the area, The Ringling's furnished their winter home in consultation with art and antiques dealers including Joseph Duveen. They called it Ca' d'Zan - the House of John, a lover of Venice. Ca D 'Zan is Venetian for "House of John." When you think of an Anna Maria Island or Sarasota vacation, some things that likely pop immediately into mind are beaches, boating, fishing, swimming, Sarasota vacation rentals, and lots of sunshine. You might not think about museums and cultural history right off the bat. We did not go inside the mansion, we had to take a flight, but it was not to be missed. Pro tip: if you are here for just the river side of the Mansion which looks picture perfect (most of the photos you see on the internet or Insta photos of influencers) - it's the river side of the mansion. Monday- it's free entry so one can go to the mansion, enjoy the outside area, and click your Insta-worthy photos". Otherwise, the fee is $25/adult. Fact: One of the United States architectural gems, the mansion was used in the filming of 'Great Expectations' directed by Oscar winner Alfonso Cuaron in 1998! The man behind the "Greatest Show on Earth" began construction on his grand house in 1924; two years and a stunning $1.5 million later (equivalent to more than $16 million today), the 41-room, 15-bath mansion totaling 36,000 square feet was completed. From a new roof and terrace to replaced balustrades and decorative ornaments, Ca' d' Zan was fully restored by 2002. Repairs cost ten times the amount of original construction: $15 million. if you are here then you do wanna visit the museum- the Ringling is famous for being the prior training location and home to John and Mable Ringling. One of the most affluent men of his time, John Ringling was one of the five Ringling Brothers who teamed up to create the Barnum & Bailey Circus. The creation of the Ringling Bros World's Greatest Shows led to a monopoly of the modern-day circus. Parking: Onsite parking is available.

3 ways to visit. Self guided visit is available 10am, 1pm or 345pm for first floor. Adult cost is $35 and includes Museum admission. Guided tour of first and second floor bedrooms is 40 minutes. Adult cost is $50. Guided tour including Belvedere Tower costs $60. Great Expectations (1998) converted to Paradiso Persuto was amazing. Gwyneth Paltrow, Ethan Hawke and Anne Bancroft seem to belong.

A gorgeous mansion and art college, and circus museum (de-emphasized) looking directly onto Sarasota Bay, with very attractive gardens and grounds

We enjoyed our 45 minute docent tour of John & Mabel Ringling's personal home. John believed that Sarasota would be a world-class tourist destination and decided to build a new home here to represent his vision for the area. Dwight Baum, a New York architect created the Ringling mansion in the Venetian Gothic style. The Ringling's had no children and when John died in 1936 he left his mansion and art museum to the people of Florida. Alice, our guide whisked us from the solarium, to the reception room, ballroom, court, breakfast room, valet room and pantry, bar, dining room, tap room, kitchen, John's bedroom With a large marble bathtub and closet filled with his clothing, Mable's room and the guest room. It was interesting most of the furnishings were purchased second hand at auction. The couple stayed here with staff three months every winter and entertained. It was interesting that the home had a gas stove, several refrigerators, with stood hurricanes and poor weather, there was a large bar during prohibition 100 years ago.