An art lover or not, you will definitely love John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art at 5401 Bay Shore Road Sarasota, FL. The Museum of Art was built by John Ringling to put his collections of masterpieces of El Greco, Veronese, Tintoretto, van Dyck and more on exhibit. The American, Asian and European art collections accentuate every corner of John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. The museum was officially opened to the public in 1931 and was since then one of the most visited places in Sarasota Metro even by those who aren't art aficionados.
When you travel to Sarasota, Florida, be sure to have an hour or two to visit John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Upon seeing the luxurious-looking museum, you will find out why it is one of the most popular Sarasota attractions.
The Courtyard
Featuring original antiques and renaissance sculptures, The Courtyard of the Museum is great spot to visit. You will see Michelangelo's David two fountains namely Fountain of Tortoise, a replica from the Piazza Mattei in Rome and Oceanus Fountain, another replica of Giovanni Bologna's masterpiece in Florence.
Cà d'Zan Mansion
The Ringlings showed their idea of a perfect mansion through Cà d'Zan Mansion, a palatial mansion reflecting the beauty of Italy. The Mansion boasts an almost fairytale-like beauty of Venetian Gothic architecture.
Cà d'Zan or “House of John” was completed before Christmas of 1925 and cost $1.5 million. The grandiose mansion was greatly admired by visitors and John and Mable Ringling themselves. This approximately 36,000 square feet mansion designed by architect Dwight James Baum has 41 rooms and 15 bathrooms. A tour at Cà d'Zan Museum of Art will make you feel like a king or queen, thanks to the very luxurious and majestic “House of John.”
Circus Museums
Celebrating the American circus is the Circus Museum which was established in 1948. The museum was actually the first to document the colorful and interesting history of circus. Memorabilia and artifacts like “The Greatest Show on Earth” circus movie and some Ringling family circus artifacts are carefully preserved and displayed there. You will also see the private Rail car of John and Mable on exhibit named Wisconsin.
