Beyond Naples · Beyond Naples
Sarasota and The Ringling: the back story
The back story
About Sarasota and The Ringling: the back story
Sarasota owes much of its cultural life to John and Mable Ringling, of the Ringling Bros. circus, who built a Venetian-Gothic mansion on the bay in the 1920s and left it, with their art collection, to the State of Florida.
Ca’ d’Zan
Ca’ d’Zan, the Ringlings’ mansion on Sarasota Bay, completed in 1926, was inspired by the palaces of Venice. Its terrace and rooms are open to visitors as part of The Ringling.
The museum
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art holds Old Master paintings, among them large works by Rubens, around a courtyard of sculpture. The Circus Museum tells the story of the American circus.
The Ringlings left Florida a palace, a museum and a circus.
Siesta Key
After the museum, head to Siesta Key, whose fine quartz sand is among the whitest in Florida.
Our advice: leave Naples early, spend the morning at The Ringling, and the afternoon on Siesta Key; it is a long but rewarding day.
Why it's on our list
- The Ringlings
- Ca’ d’Zan
- The art museum
- Siesta Key
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Sarasota and The Ringling: the back story before you go.