Seeing absolute wealth is often a shocker. But the 56 room Ringling mansion in Sarasota is over the top because of its artistically painted doors, cupboards, ceilings, 15 marble bathrooms and hand made coloured Italian glass windows. If you are ever in the area don't miss it! John Ringling made a fortune in the circus business and with that money he purchased and sold to developers most of the land in the Sarasota region in the early 1900s. That income allowed him to build the mansion.
Windows made by hand in Italy.
The Ringlings often travelled to Europe and Mable Ringling fell in love with the grandeur of Venice. So they commissioned the architect Dwight James Baum to build their dream home, modelled on the Doge’s Palace in Venice. Today the palace would cost 26 million dollars to build.
The couple hosted many lavish musicals, garden and dinner parties lasting until dawn. An orchestra played on their yacht moored off the marble terrace. Friends from New York travelled down by train and were picked up at the station in Rolls Royces. There was one dirt road. Sarasota in those days was a fishing village and the fisherman must have marvelled at Mable ferrying her friends around in a gondola.
What impressed me most was the couple's vision, attention to detail and love for art. The whimsical paintings below are on the ceiling of John Ringling's games room. His liquor came by boat from Cuba. Boats were unloaded during the night and the bottles stored in a vault just off the games room. His bathtub was made from a solid piece of marble that came from the same quarry as the marble Michelangelo used to sculpt "David."
Tomorrow morning, Bob and I fly to Quito, Ecuador. I'll miss our beach creatures.
Conch in shell
We're taking medication for altitude sickness and I feel a little off. But all will be well soon. See you in Quito!
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