Gianni Versace Villa

In 1992, Gianni Versace saw the historic Casa Casuarina mansion here and fell in love with it. The house was built back in 1930, inspired by the palace of Christopher Columbus’s son.

Versace bought the villa for $3m. He then acquired the neighboring building, demolished it, and spent $32 million on a massive renovation.

The result was a large residence with an area of 2,200 m². It features three floors, luxurious bedrooms, several living rooms, two kitchens, a library, a bar, a private garden, and a pool.

The entire interior was a blend of Italian Baroque and classical antiquity in Versace’s signature style. It was as if a Renaissance palace had been transported to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, with a dash of ancient Rome and Gianni Versace’s own wild imagination added to the mix.

There’s no room for minimalism here. The ceilings are painted with clouds, flowers, and mythological scenes. The walls are covered with frescoes, gilding, and whimsical ornaments. Underfoot, marble gives way to artistic parquet and mosaics that Italian artisans assembled by hand from thousands of tiny pieces.

Each bedroom is like a theatrical set. Giant beds with carved headboards. Silk bedspreads. Velvet. Zebra and leopard prints. Heavy drapes and antique furniture.

Turquoise sits side by side with orange here. Burgundy pairs with gold. And Greek motifs intertwine with tropical flowers.

The house’s pride and joy is a swimming pool made of a million mosaic tiles, with flecks of real 24-karat gold. The courtyard features a giant head of Medusa—the fashion house’s famous symbol.

Versace used to throw parties here. He hosted Madonna, Elton John, Princess Diana, and other celebrities. This house became one of the centers of Miami’s social scene in the 1990s.

In the summer of 1997, a tragedy occurred. One morning, the 50-year-old Versace was returning from a nearby café. Serial killer Andrew Cunenen was waiting for him right on the steps of his own mansion. He shot the fashion designer twice. Versace died in the hospital. Eight days later, the killer himself was also found dead. He had taken his own life. The motive for Versace’s murder will remain a mystery.

After the fashion designer’s death, the house stood empty for several years. In 2000, Donatella Versace sold it for $19 million. Thirteen years later, the villa was resold at auction for $41 million.

Today, the villa operates as a luxury boutique hotel with ten suites, a restaurant, and a venue for private events. The famous mosaics, the pool, and the interior finishes of the rooms where Versace himself once lived have been carefully preserved.