Tuesday, June 8, 2010

The Villa by Barton G.



The former Versace mansion is under new management.  As of December 2009 it is under the management of restaurateur Barton G. Weiss and has been renamed, The Villa by Barton G.  Originally named Casa Casuarina by the architect Alden Freeman, the Mediterranean style villa was built in 1930.




The most famous owner of this South Beach beauty was fashion designer Gianni Versace who in 1992 , for 2.9 MM, purchased, refurbished and expanded the property into his luxurious home and show palace.  In addition to the mosaic tiled pool and southern wing he added, he embellished the mansion with ornate architectural details, most notably in the courtyard, observatory, and exterior facade.






Now a luxury hotel, travelers can stay in one of the guilded suites, each of which is uniquely named for their decorating schemes.  And for a nice touch of green, the hotel offers guests unique amenities such as Kindles to electronically deliver daily news instead of the standard newsprint edition.

As for my pick of rooms, it's a tie between the Azure and Venus suites.

All reservations must be made by phone or email through the concierge.  No online reservations confirmed in this hotel.  It's white glove service from start to finish.

Special thanks to southbeachrealestateblog.com for info and before photo.

Aviary Suite


Azure Suite




Medallion Suite



Signature Suite



Venus Suite



Observatory



Restaurant



Architectural Detail



Mosaic Tiled Pool



Courtyard Fountain



Courtyard for Events



Courtyard Pool

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