CA' D'ZAN:  RINGLING MANSION

By  Mike Miller June 12, 2025

Ca’ d’Zan is the historic mansion of John and Mable Ringling in Sarasota, Florida. Built in 1926, it’s part of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

The Venetian Gothic-style home overlooks Sarasota Bay. Visitors tour its 56 rooms to see period decor and art.

The mansion reflects the Ringlings’ love for Italian architecture. It hosts events like weddings and guided tours. 

Ca' d'Zan: The historic Ringling mansion.

John Ringling, a circus magnate, and his wife Mable commissioned Ca’ d’Zan in 1924. Architect Dwight James Baum designed it, inspired by Venice’s Doge’s Palace.

Construction cost $1.5 million and took two years. Mable oversaw every detail, from furniture to frescoes. She died in 1929, just three years after moving in.

John left the estate to Florida in 1936 upon his death. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1982. The state restored it in 2002 to preserve its 1920s look.  

Ca’ d’Zan is at 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, Florida 34243. From I-75, take Exit 213 west on University Parkway, then left on Bay Shore Road.

The museum campus, including the mansion, is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours to 8 PM on Thursdays.

Guided tours require reservations; call 941-359-5700. Self-guided tours cover the first floor only. Photography is allowed but no tripods.

Wear comfortable shoes for walking the estate. Check the website for special events like evening tours. 

• Ca’ d’Zan means “House of John” in Venetian dialect.  

• The mansion has 15,000 square feet and 41 rooms.  

• Its terra cotta exterior uses 10 shades of colored tiles.  

• Mable’s rose garden, restored in 2006, blooms year-round.  

• The ballroom ceiling has hand-painted dance scenes.  

• The mansion’s Aeolian organ still plays with 2,289 pipes.  

• John Ringling imported marble from Italy for the floors.  

• The 2002 restoration took six years and $15 million.  

• The dining room chandelier weighs 1,600 pounds.  

• Scenes from the 2007 film Great Expectations were shot here. 

CA' D'ZAN:  RINGLING MANSION WEBSITE