Ringling Museum

This place is definitely worth the hype and the drive. The cadzan was so beautifully and intentionally built, the intricate designs, the detailing in every part of the house! It made me miss the way we used to build things not the modern very bland and very plain we build things now. The house is a work of art, I wonder just how majestic it was back in the days. We couldn’t do a full exploration off the ringling but I’d definitely go again

Th Ca’ d’Zan was top of my list of sites to visit in Sarasota and it didn’t disappoint! I spent about 2 hours exploring along with the circus and art museums. If the heat hadn’t been so bad I would have stayed longer. There was some restoration going on. Employees were helpful and friendly.

We visited buildings 3 and 4 (circus art museum) and the art gallery itself (buildings 11,12). The art gallery is clearly incredible. I am not a connoisseur of modern art, so I was able to enjoy masterpieces from different eras and regions. Of course, most of the works are dedicated to biblical themes and characters. This is what I call real art 🖼️

While on vacation from New Orleans, my family and I visited the Ringling Museum on a free Monday. We visited the Art Museum and Sculpture Garden. We were truly impressed by the beautiful works of art. It took us about 2 hours to get through those attractions. I advise allowing more time to see the whole Museum. I look forward to returning to FL next year and seeing the whole Museum!!

This place was way more impressive than I was expecting. To be honest, I had just heard it was a nice place to go and my parents were in town. The mansion is beautiful, if you like that sort of thing. My parents and kids enjoyed it - it is only the first floor, so it does not take very long. I had a friend compare it to Vizcaya in Miami and the similarities and differences were one of the most interesting parts to me, having been to Vizcaya multiple times. But we did not give ourselves enough for this entire Ringling Museum experience. The glass exhibit going on currently was beautiful, and then in the circus museum, we spent so much time looking at the very impressive miniatures, that it was suddenly closing time! This was obviously our fault - we arrived around 1, and had lunch at the restaurant, which was very good (multiple vegetarian options, my party of 6 is half vegetarian), and could never have seen it all by 5. We didn't even get to step foot in the art museum. So it seems like we will have to come back, we (2 seniors, 1 adult, and 3 kids ages 10-14) all had a great time. The playground is also nice - we were able to stay on that after closing for awhile (the slide is fun for adults too!).

Reviews are always hard to do if you are fair about doing them, because the review is obviously based on your personal experience and not how others may feel. I was underwhelmed. From the circus side there are only 2 buildings. The first is primarily the exhibition of the scale model of the circus in its heyday. It truly is amazing that a single person was so obsessed with recreation of a childhood experience that clearly impacted them greatly. There is an intro video before you see the model produced by PBS with the creator. In the interview, the moderator asks the creator… “Are you sane?” his answer basically “probably not”. Ya, agreed. That made the experience kinda dark for me. The second Circus museum building is very limited in what is there. The private railcar of John Ringling was the highlight for me. Other very interesting pieces [carriages and what not] but a very limited amount of stuff. For Florida, the fine arts museum is arguably the best in the state for volume and quality of the collection. Yes i am a native Floridian and love this state. The statuary garden was very disappointing because NONE of the fountains were filled or running. None. Few things quite as disappointing as viewing beautiful empty fountains. I enjoyed the visit and glad i went for the experience! It was just a ways away from a 4 or 5 star experience for me but still totally worth the ticket price. val Val

I've been driving by it for 11 years and we finally went. I did not realize so much fine art was in such a close proximity. Very informative. Very impressive. My family loved it and we'll be back to see the msin building, because we ran out of time to do so.

The Ringling Museum: A Truly Great Place to Visit! The Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida, is far more than just a museum; it's an expansive estate that offers a captivating journey through art, history, and nature. It truly is a great place to visit, offering something for everyone. The Museum of Art is a treasure trove, boasting an impressive collection of European paintings, including masterpieces by Rubens, Velazquez, and Titian. The sheer scale and beauty of the works, housed in a stunning Renaissance-style building, are breathtaking. Don't miss the central courtyard with its classical sculptures and fountains – it's a perfect spot for reflection. Beyond the art, the Circus Museum is an absolute delight. It vividly brings to life the vibrant history of the American circus, with fascinating exhibits like historic wagons, dazzling costumes, and the incredible 44,000-piece Howard Bros. Circus Model, which is a miniature recreation of an entire traveling circus. It's a nostalgic and entertaining experience for all ages. A highlight of any visit is the magnificent Ca' d'Zan, the opulent Venetian Gothic mansion that was the winter residence of John and Mable Ringling. Tours of this grand home offer a glimpse into the lavish lifestyle of the Roaring Twenties, with its intricate details, antique furnishings, and stunning views of Sarasota Bay. The Bayfront Gardens are equally impressive. Spanning 66 acres, these meticulously maintained gardens are a serene oasis, featuring majestic banyan trees, Mable's Rose Garden, and various other botanical wonders. It's a wonderful place for a leisurely stroll, offering beautiful vistas and a peaceful escape. Whether you're an art enthusiast, a history buff, or simply looking for a beautiful place to explore, The Ringling provides a rich and diverse experience. With its world-class collections, stunning architecture, and picturesque grounds, it's undoubtedly a must-visit destination in Sarasota.

An absolute must see if you visit Sarasota! The grounds are stunning, the staff is fantastic, & the history is beautiful. Although I don't agree with having animals in the circus, it's nice to see that it's evolving & hopefully in the near future the few that are still remaining will be retired. It's cruel & completely unnecessary to have a good time. Rant over. lol. With that said, give yourself plenty of time to experience this place. It's very large. After the circus museums, there is a private collection of art that The Ringling's owned for which they created a breathtaking mansion to showcase it for all of us to enjoy. It's worth it! It's definitely a place I would return to for a different memorable experience. Thanks Team The Ringling.

Yesterday, my wife and I took a day off of work for a date day. In Florida, we have many options. I mean, a LOT of options. We decided to do one of our Florida bucket list items, The Ringling. The Ringling is an hour and six minutes from our house. I purchased the 40 minute tour of the house, along with entrance to the museums. I think the ticketing system isn't most clear, even the guy taking our tickets messed up by not giving us something for the house tour, but the people there we super nice and it was instantly rectified. Literally, that is the ONLY slightly negative thing about the experience. We arrive and parking was very easy. It is quick and easy to get into the museum; tickets were electronic. This is where the good stuff begins. We started at the Tibbals Learning Center. This place is fantastic and far beyond what I expected. You must experience the model both from the ground level, and then the lookouts on the second floor. Loved the experiences upstairs. Our second stop was Ca' D'Zan. Pain to write, so I call it the house. the house is very impressive. I recommend the tour so you can see the second floor. I will try the experience next time so I can go all the way to the top. Do not expect the Biltmore or Hearst Castle. This home is much smaller, but it has an unmatched view. What is different to me in this house is the feeling you could live there. It isn't so grand that you couldn't imagine living there. Yet, it is far more than any but the wealthiest could afford. Not as large as you think but pretty incredible. After the house, we went to the art museum. I don't care if you are an art lover or not, this place is incredible. It far exceeded what I expected. This would be a major museum in any major city in America. The collection of early European art is massive. Multiple Rubens, a Rembrandt that was probably completed by his circle, incredible artifacts from a number of cultures. The grounds themselves are art. The building is magnificent. Two of the rooms in the museum are themselves exhibits. Our final stop was the other circus museum. The train car and circus wagons are the highlight, but everything was interesting. Overall, every part of the facility was well maintained and at a level that would rival any major museum. 50 acres are beautifully manicured. There are picnic tables everywhere. They encourage you to bring food and enjoy the grounds. The restaurant on site gets great reviews and looks pretty nice. I think we will try it next time when we bring guests. This is a place everyone should visit, So much history is found here. It is presented as well as it can be. It is fun, interesting, beautiful all wrapped up in a very unique experience. Highly recommend. It exceeded my expectations and I hope it does yours as well.

Sarasota, FL - Stopped to see this unique museum on the drive between Tampa and Naples. A circus museum is a rarity so focused on that rather than the Art Museum component. Interesting pieces included a restored ticket wagon and gilded age era Pullman car. Also interesting was an enormous model circus that showed the scope and scale of the circus. This exhibit raised a lot of unanswered questions such as how much did circus performers get paid? Was it a good job? How were animals treated? Could people of color visit the circus or work there? I was surprised that in 2024 none of these kinds of questions were explored. Basically they captured the excitement of the circus (for some people) but never went any deeper. Additionally we toured Cad Zan or house of John. It was basically an over the top house on the water. Some might say gaudy but tastes do differ. One thing that was noticeable was that there were a large number of staff in the house but no one gave us any information. This differed greatly from Edison's home which we toured the next day. There employees shared historical information and anecdotes. Also as we approached the house there was no signage directing where to enter. We walked around the house entirely and then we entered at the exit which btw was not marked as an exit but the sign indicated ticket sales. Odd. And not very welcoming. Overall given the high price of tickets $40 per person to see the house and museum and the lack of information about the exhibits we will not be in a hurry to return.

I rented a car from Tampa to just drive down to Sarasota to visit The Ringling Museum. It was worth that drive as we spent several hours looking at art paintings at the Museum of Art and taking photos in the courtyard of the Museum of Art. We walked all the way down to Ca'D'Zan and took photos by the bay. Touring the Circus Museum was also pretty fascinating and learning how the circus worked back in the days before animal cruelty became a big thing. It's free on Mondays if the entry fee is stopping you from going. I used my student ID to get a discounted entry of $5.

My review highlights the museum as an exceptional venue for private events. The grounds are simply breathtaking, providing a stunning and luxurious backdrop that elevates the entire experience. Every corner of the property shines, making it an ideal setting for portraits and it's easy to understand why! If you're searching for a fantastic location for engagement sessions, the fee here is a reasonable price to pay for such a gorgeous setting. You won't be disappointed!

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. Most people remember The Ringling Brothers with Barnum & Bailey Circus when they were children. Now you can go back in time and relive your childhood menories. 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 at this property. Eventually, the Ringling legacy was given to 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. 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.

This museum is an absolutely incredible experience. There is a ton of memorabilia related to the circus, but there permanent collection and rotating exhibits were also really impressive. Give yourself plenty of time to see all the buildings and enjoy the grounds. We were there on a hot day and it was still really lovely and shady to walk around.

I took a trip from Tampa to visit the museum. The museum is well kept and has plenty of parking. There is a restaurant and coffee shop on the property and plenty of space to bring your own food for a picnic. My favorite thing ti see was the Cadzan house. The items in the kitchen are the same from almost 100 years ago so seeing the original stove was pretty cool. You can also get some nice ocean views once you exit the house.

The Ringling estate is extraordinary.  We came to see the waterfront mansion, Ca' d'Zan, but there's more -- Ringling Museum, Circus Museum, gardens, picnic areas, a playground, and numerous walking paths.  This was the winter home of John Ringling and his wife, Mable.  Ca' d'Zan -- "House of John" in Venetian dialect -- is a gorgeous Venetian Gothic revival home on the edge of Sarasota Bay, surrounded by lush trees and beautiful gardens.  Completed in 1926 after two years of construction, this waterfront mansion has 56 rooms spread out over 36,000 square feet of living and entertaining space.  We took the docent-guided tour of the house ($60 each) and highly recommend it.  The tour covered the first floor entertaining and dining spaces, pantries and servant quarters, second floor bedroom suites, third floor (attic) game room and hidden vault, and a climb up into Belvedere Tower with its awesome 360° views.  Along the way, we learned about John and Mable, his businesses, their lifestyle and entertaining, and how they sourced furnishings for the house in Europe. This was one of the best house tours I've ever taken!  I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Sarasota.

Didn't know what to expect with this one. Saw it was half circus museum and half art museum. Well I can tell you that both are world class museums! The circus museum is not to be missed. Seriously, a must do for anyone remotely close to Sarasota. The highlight is the enormous miniature circus showcasing how logistically amazing it was to have the circus roll into town in the morning, put on a show, and roll out in the evening. I can't imagine how they did but it's all detailed here. Oh and there is the main circus museum and then a smaller one in another building on the grounds. Figure 1.5 hours to do the circus part. Speaking of grounds, it's a very nice, but small, botanical garden as well. Very pretty and you'll get some great shots. Finally is the art museum. It alone is a great museum from the renaissance to modern. American to European to Asian. And they have a sculpture garden. Really impressive. You could easily spend 2 hours here if you really appreciate art. We didn't do Ringling's house but that's another part of the campus. Overall, you can spend half or even a full day here if interested. Fantastic place!

Was pleasantly surprised to find the Ringling Museum in Sarasota on our November vacation. The place is absolutely gorgeous. The museum had lots of exhibits from the circus' past, including a car from the actual train and circus models of the grounds. The grounds are beautiful, as well as the museum of art and the statue garden. Due to the recent hurricane, Ca' d'Zan was off limits due to repairs. They do have a military/veteran discount of 25%, which saved us quite a bit and was very important to me. We got lots of cool photos and would definitely recommend stopping by.

Such an extraordinary place where only being able to rate it five stars, diminishes it. We purchased the show with the museum entrance, an amazing value. We were enamored from the first moment, as even the cafe food was beyond expectations.

What a great way to spend a few hours! Admission for the museums and the 1st floor of Ca D'Zan mansion is reasonable. So cool to see the history of the circus. We learned a lot about the Ringling family as well. The mansion is simply gorgeous! The setting on the bay.. can't beat the view. Totally recommend this if you're vacationing in the Sarasota area.

This place is one of my favorite day trips from St. Pete! Great museum with gorgeous art pieces and a really convenient layout that's easy to navigate. All of the art descriptions are really informative. Beautiful grounds and easy parking with great ticket prices for college students. You probably don't need more than 1.5-2 hours here, though! Also fair warning, the restaurant on the grounds usually has insane wait times (like 1+ hour) so either get your name in early or eat before/after heading there. There is a small Starbucks near the ticket office if you're starving, but you can't use the app with it and the options are very limited so I wouldn't recommend.

I never tire of this place. So much to see. The house is fabulous as it sits on the edge of the ocean. Lots of relics. Plenty to view. Come and enjoy the circus history.

The Ringling Museum, its grounds and the Ca' d'Zan is easily one of my favorite places in the world. I fell in love with it when I first visited in my early 20s. (I was sad that I was already married, I would have loved to have my wedding there!) Now I live here and can enjoy its beauty as often as I like. My entire family loves our visits here, and have an amazing time. It is perfect for any type of weather, and there is always something new and different to discover. The Art Museum has such gorgeous art pieces, some that have been there for decades, and others that are new. The courtyard is filled with beautiful fountains that were in use not too long ago, I hope they regain life soon! The Circus Museum is filled with fun and awe-inspiring artifacts from circus life. The Ca' d'Zan is absolutely gorgeous, inside and out. The architecture and attention to detail is stunning. I especially love the colored glass windows. The grounds are also amazing. There are so many different types of trees, plants, and flowers. There are banyan tree groves, bamboo forests, a secret garden and rose garden to name a few. We have seen hummingbirds in the secret garden, along with butterflies of many varieties. There are so many natural spots for photos, and each one turns out phenomenal. There is a kid's park inside and an awesome food truck with ice cream that my daughters look forward to. We just discovered the family events that they offer, and have started taking advantage of those. We attended a toddler/preschool art and story time, which was extremely well run. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable and we will definitely return for more. We are thankful to live in proximity to such a gem of culture. There is so much to say about The Ringling, it is just something that you have to experience for yourself!

Located along the waterfront in Sarasota is The Ringling Estate, and there's good reason it's the number one attraction to visit in town. The extensive property consists of a mansion (Ca D'Zan), a European style art museum, the circus museum, and expansive walkways and gardens. There's a coffee shop (serving up quick eats and baked goods) and a restaurant (The Ringling Grillroom) on premises. The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the state museum of the state of Florida, and consists of over 20 galleries surrounding an Italian style courtyard and a statue of David. While many of the galleries have European paintings, there are sculptures and decorative arts from various places from around the world. Even if you have no interest in the history of Ringling Brothers or the circus, this art museum holds its own as a top notch museum worth visiting. The circus museum consists of 2 buildings and is a one of a kind niche museum dedicated to the history of the circus, which is how the Ringling family gained fame and fortune, while also tremendously contributing to the growth of the Sarasota area in it's heyday. The gardens, while modest, are a pleasure to explore, with well manicured pathways and Banyan trees providing unique appeal and shade. I didn't have time to fit in Ca D'Zan on my visit, but the mansion is quite the impressive fixture on the Sarasota waterfront. All in all, The Ringling Estate is a visit I'd wholeheartedly recommend to others, and a place I'd love to return to explore further in the future. There's plenty of free parking and admission to the art museum and grounds is free on Mondays, though well worth the price of admission any day of the week.

The art museum reminds of a european palace. The artworks are impressive, though I was unprepared to linger for longer viewing. I'd go again just for the Circus Museum. Learned a lot not only about the circus itself, but also about its place in cultural history. The Howard Bros. miniature replica circus is worth a long study all by itself. Thanks, RM, for a fine pre-flight activity.

Loved this place! There was SO much to see! We bought the ticket for everything and the grounds are so beautiful to walk through (66 acres) let alone all the sights! First, we started at the Circus Museum which was completely fascinating. We learned so much about the history of the circus, the amount of people involved in putting it on and moving from city to city. There was a gigantic miniature model of a circus set up with so many parts and groups that you never even thought about. Then we strolled down to the Ca'D'Zan house of John Ringling. It was spectacular. You can only walk through the first floor, but there is still plenty to see and learn. It is oceanfront so don't forget to walk out on the stone patio at the back for the sea views. Lastly, we walked down to the long building called the Museum of Art. We were pleasantly surprised- the collection was huge. Some of the largest paintings we had ever seen and it was room after room of paintings. You could have spend all day just in that place. There were also fireplaces and fittings from other wealthy family homes which was also interesting. Plan on spending 2-3 hours or MORE here. This place is a total gem in Sarasota.

The art museum is delicious. They have a Rembrandt. Some new art. The gift shop is great. I was pleasantly surprised. Not much circus. John and Mable were into collecting art. The house was closed due to 2 hurricanes in 2 weeks. This property was given to Sarasota with love in 1936.

Absolutely gorgeous day adventure! This spot has the Estate (Ca' d'zan) which is $10 extra, the art museum and gardens and the circus museum which explains the history of the Ringling circus and all that went into the production. I was amazed by how much time, planning and work went into putting on a circus in the past. We spent about 3 hours wondering the grounds and different areas - there is also a rose garden and a playground for kids. This place is great for people of all ages. If you are a student, be sure to bring your ID as certain students get in for free!

Awesome museum! Definitely worth the $30. Would recommend going to the museum. I managed to get inside for just $5 (because I'm a college student).

Just wow...make sure you get tickets for the art museum AND the Ca d'Zan house tour. This is all just so impressive and well-done. I especially loved seeing the mansion on the water, and walking through the first floor of the Venetian gothic design. The art museum could take a whole day to explore by itself, plus the beautiful garden grounds, and there's also a circus museum and some special exhibitions in the main building. Thankfully there is a Starbucks and a restaurant, so you can make this a fun full day.

"Ringling" that's a name I've heard 100+ times so it's crazy to actually go to the Ringling mansion which is now a museum. Museums are suppose to help you learn and that's exactly what I got out from this journey. I learned how a traveling circus back then would operate, how people in the early 1900 used to live and about the Ringling family. The Ringling mansion is something you would see from the Great Gatsby. Its gorgeous and the detail on each frame is insane. There is a section for the circus, you can tour the mansion, you can visit the art museum from when Ringling used to go to Europe and bring back art and sculptures. Overall a great experience and I 100% recommend.

This is a must see! Allow yourself time to walk through all the spaces to learn about circus life and the amazing artwork. I was there for about 4 hours and still didn't see everything. I grabbed a bit to eat at the coffee shop found on the 2nd floor of the entrance building. The Bayfront Garden is stunning and i took so many photos of the trees. I also toured the 1st floor of the Ca' D' Zan. Parking is free and bathrooms weee super clean. Enjoy!

We had a wonderful day here. The grounds and gardens are beautiful the museums were huge and amazing. The house was also amazing. What a great experience would highly recommend.

Honestly one of the best private art museums made public that I've seen. So many different collections from prior centuries. The museum itself is a work of art with a beautiful garden and detailed statues. The grounds also has the family mansion, the Ca' d' Zan, the circus museums, theater, and the rose garden, along with some fun features for families as well. The mansion is a must-see as it's view is perfect and the architecture is so different than what is usually seen in American mansions. The rose garden was exquisite as well although this wasn't the season for grand blooms. Overall this is a must-see if you are visiting or even live in Sarasota.

I was skeptical about going but it was sort of intriguing. I was glad I decided to go. It filled in many blanks in my knowledge and was just so relaxing and enjoyable.

So much to learn and so much to see. The next generation will know nothing about circuses. I have been to a few but nothing like these big tent shows on display. I'm a city girl so it was always Madison Square Garden for me. The money that the Ringling family had was insane. To see the house they built for a winter get away is nothing. They also had a special train car built for them. All on display here.

My friend and I went here early, on a weekday, and that definitely was a perfect time to come. We paid extra so we could see Ca'd'Zan (House of John), the castle/mansion built by John Ringling on the edge of the grounds. We started with Ca'd'Zan, which was a nice little walk from the main entrance, and right on Sarasota Bay. They only do official tours a couple days a week, so we just self toured. Fortunately, there were a lot of Guards around that were able to answer any questions we had, and freely provided information they thought might be interesting to us. Since we weren't on the tour, we could only see the first level and the grounds. Leaving here we walked to the left side so we could see the secret garden, and where the Ringlings were buried. Then we walked back towards the museums, wandering through Mabel Ringling's rose garden on the way. The circus museum consists of two buildings, with random circus props, many interactive exhibits, and the extremely cool rail car that was used by John Ringling when he traveled with the circus. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the extraordinary 3/4-inch to the foot scale replica model of the entire Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus located in it's own room - make sure you see this. We went from here, through the Dwarf Garden, which I loved, to the main museum of art. There was so much to see here! We used their QR code so we could listen to some of the descriptions of art through our phones/ear buds. The first part was all religious paintings, and then you wandered into other galleries with a wide variety of art. After a couple hours here, we were pretty arted-out. So we headed to the inner courtyard to look at the gimourmous statue of David, and all the interesting regular statues. Leaving, we did a detour to the glass museum, which is near the entrance. Don't miss this! It was small, but had beautiful works of glass in it. Final tips - be ready to walk, and plan on spending the day here. Fortunately they have a restaurant on site, so we were able to take a lunch break, and then get back to it. This place is definitely a Sarasota treasure.

We had a wonderful day here. The circus miniature museum was a definite can't miss--amazing in its realism and detail, and gives a perfect picture of a vanished phenomenon. There's another, life-sized, circus museum next to the building housing the miniatures. It was also a highlight-my favorite was the private railcar that Ringling had used. We took the audio tour of the first floor of the mansion, Ca D'Zan. On certain days limited groups get access to the upper floors of the Ca D'Zan, but we were there on the wrong day. The art museum was last on our loop--large with many impactful pieces. tips: Best to buy tickets online in advance for the entire museum as for a little extra you can include the Ca D'Zan--admission is limited and walk-ins may not get into the mansion. Food on site was very limited. Defiinitely book in advance for the Ringling Grillroom (this is done through Opentable or calling the restaurant). When we visited the food truck near the Ca D'Zan was sold out of food and the restaurant was fully booked, so the only food option was the Starbucks in the second floor above the gift shop, not the best.

This has been on my bucket list for years and it did not disappoint! There is so much to see both indoors and outdoors. Although I am against the circus and how they treated the animals, it was very interesting to learn more about how the Ringling brothers came about and learned how they made such a big production and business. The Circus Museum had an enormous miniature model of the circus that was so cool and the attention to detail was fascinating! The Museum of Art was absolutely stunning and a lot bigger than I expected. A lot of the paintings in every room that were apart of John's original collection and also donated. There were unique sculptures and jewelry. The bulk of our time was spent exploring the art and also garden (less time outside though as it was a hot summer day). On the way to Ca'D'Zan, you pass Mable Ringling's Rose Garden which is beautiful but could not stay there for long as there wasn't any shade it the sun was very strong. A short walk away is the Ca'D'Zan house of John Ringling which is an extra charge but super cool inside. This was the main attraction for me. The Venetian style architecture is absolutely beautiful, the gothic dining room, the ceilings, the old furniture, the stained windows. We only toured the first floor as the upstairs was closed but it was still nice. Overall, I would definitely recommend a visit here and putting aside at least 3 hours.

Where to start with this review The staff is so sweet and knowledgeable, I love to visit just for the rose garden and the art museum, it seems every time I go I find new things to discover and learn so much more with each visit! 10/10 I'm local but love to go just for the views, smelling the fresh roses, detail in every art piece, and walking ! It takes me by surprise each visit

Great museum. Nice staff. Nice art pieces. The Mater Dolorosa by Onorio Marinari is worth the visit. Nice store and the huge book of European art was extremely discounted which makes for a nice souvenir.

I spent about 3 hours here but I easily could have spent 4or 5. I loved it and highly recommend visiting. While there is some interesting circus history and memorabilia it is so much more then that - I real glimpse into the gilded age and the appreciation for art , gardens and architecture that John and Mable Ringling had.

Full transparency- did not do the circus part. But if you're near, check out the gardens! We stopped on our way to the Sarasota airport. We happened to be here on a monday, so the art museum was free! Free parking + free admission = good way to be outside before we leave FL.

Beautiful. There is so much to see here and take in. You can not miss the miniature circus they have in the first museum. My girlfriend and I spent at least an hour in here just reading all the signs they had. It was breathtaking. There's so much to learn. Grab a bottle of water and make sure to check out the mansion in the back, walk around the back to see the most beautiful view of the bay.

The museum is spectacular. I love the diversity of art and the architecture. I appreciate how university students are able to enter for free for assignments.

We made a whole day out of our visit. I recommend buying the pass to see the museums and their home. They said the exhibit modeling the size of the circus took over 50 years to complete and it's a really cool site to see. We had lunch onsite at the grill, and it was great.

Very cool place and it is absolutely MASSIVE. I believe it sits on 66 acres and there are two circus museums, one art museum, and then the Ca'D'Zan historic mansion. I was honestly worn OUT by the time I made it to the art museum, so I didn't spend as much time in there as I would have liked. The Miniature Circus display was impressive and so comprehensive and educational. I loved learning the history of the circus and the story of how it arrived by train to each city. The special effects (dimming of the lights, indicating nightfall and then sunrise) was really neat, as well as the background music. Each display was carefully thought out. The "Wisconsin" train display was really interesting- John and Mable were so well-traveled and I loved taking a gander into their lives. There are beautiful gardens and I enjoyed the roses and the memorial area where they are buried. So quiet, peaceful, and beautiful. There is quite a sophisticated collection in the art museum- I wish I had worn different shoes, because at that point my feet were killing me. They had a diverse collection of art from various different places, and it was impressive. The ONLY thing that slightly bothered me were a couple of the docents in Ca'd'Zan. We waited outside in the sun for a bit until some of the crowd dispersed (understandable) and then the staff allowed the next set of guests to enter. The friendly docent inside had us use the QR code to bring up the audio tour. Someone asked if they provided headphones. They did not, but she told us "no problem- you don't need headphones. You can just listen from your devices." I proceeded to do just that. I turned the volume fairly low, but then I got scolded by another docent who wouldn't let me into the room that was a bar/speak-easy type setting because she said she "didn't like the noise". Seriously, lady. It's YOUR tour. I didn't like her approach. If she had asked me to pause it, I would have done so, but her condescending nature was not appreciated, especially after having been told this audio tour was not just permitted, but encouraged. No one likes to talk about the alleged ghosts, except for one docent. I think everyone else is coached not to talk about any of the lore. I think that a lot of visitors are drawn to the haunted stories, and understand they are simply stories and they can choose whether or not to believe them. But some of the docents seemed downright offended that I asked about it. Other than those isolated bouts of unfriendliness, I thought everyone else who worked there was very friendly. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and I hope to be back again.

Pretty cool little day trip from St Petersburg! The cost is $25 for adults. Parking is free. We brought our own lunches and ate on a picnic table after the one exhibit. We had such a beautiful day! Very cool museum and art work. We did not pay to go inside the home but we were able to walk the grounds. Recommend if you're looking for something different to do and see!

This was by far the best museum I've ever been to in Florida! We were there for over 2 hours and probably only saw half of what this property had to offer! First suggestion would be to eat a decent meal before going so you have the energy to tackle as much as possible. You will be doing A LOT of walking lol. There is plenty to see inside and outside so I would also go on a nice sunny day. There is a lot of renaissance art but there were a few rooms with modern and other styles as well. It really is amazing to see all the Ringling family has acquired. My favourite part of the property was the actual house. I would've loved to love in a place like that back in those days. Very jealous of the neighbours ;) I cannot wait to go back and hopefully I will get to finish seeing everything!

Adding this place to my bucket list asap - even though I've already been! Looking for inspiration? Joy? Beauty? Serenity? Look no further! Give yourself the gift of time when planning your visit. The hours I spent here simply weren't enough! Aside from the obvious (Museum of Art, Circus Museum and gardens) there is SO much more to explore. I fell in love with the grounds, and If I lived nearby I would become a member just to spend my afternoons reading under a tree, near a pond, or in the courtyard. You can start your day with a coffee and snack from the Starbucks on site, and take an afternoon break at the restaurant (indoor and outdoor seating!). If walking is your thing, there is lots of that available, too. I regret not having time to see the Ca'd'zan (the home) which is a $10 add on to your ticket but, I've heard, well worth it. There are lots of fun events (like yoga, theater, dance, rotating exhibits) so be sure to check the website so you don't miss out!

Beautiful place and grounds, great to just walk around and enjoy the peacefulness of the surroundings. The circus aspect of the grounds were the most fascinating to me. The incredible miniature circus was amazing and really gives you a true understanding of how the circus moved and operated back in the day. The fine art building was interesting, but not my cup of tea. It was still enjoyable to walk thru and see the artwork. The house at the very back was outstanding, loved the self guided walking tour and the grounds were wonderful. Mr. Ringling really picked out the best place to build a house.

Who wants to push a pencil and do schoolwork from a hotel room when as a homeschool family we can go to ringling and observe art and history?! I took my sons to Ringling. They enjoyed the many different rooms filled with Art pieces. I danced in the ringling ballroom with my husband which was super exciting. The room was filled with gold furniture and beautiful accents! There was so much to see and explore! Monday is open for free to the public. They charge $5 for college students and 15 for active military! Great deals! I recommend this place so go and visit and enjoy! They also have a grill room to enjoy lunch!

Great museum to stop by! The art section of the museum had a great array of different art, styles, and mediums to see. The circus museum was also a fun stop if you're not too afraid of clowns! Beautiful property to sit, enjoy, and walk around. General tickets were $25 which is a bit much but lovely for a first time stop!

Had a wonderful visit. The scale model of the train to circus was incredible and one must really watch the videos to truly be able to appreciate the model! Incredible campus! So happy it is being preserved!

Everyone needs to visit the Ringling! From little ones to senior adults, fun for everyone! Ca d Zan house is amazing . The grill testy is amazing too, the meatballs a polenta, and the lump crab-cake delish!

Absolutely superb, so very good. The large scale model layout is priceless, showing all the stages of the circus coming to town, and it all came in by train. We are so fortunate to have so many of the actual ornately carved wagons to see. I love private rail cars and they have a gorgeous one beautifully restored. There is a Lost World of steam trains, Main Streets, palace theaters etc, that I wish I had lived in, and this one of the best museums ever for transporting one back.