Ringling’s Ca’d’Zan

Another part of the country, yet still another extraordinary express of wealth and ambition: The Ringley home in Sarasota, Florida. Here the grandeur of America’s Gilded Age is captured as vividly as the mansions of Newport, R.I. Known as Ca’dZen, the waterfront mansion was built in the 1920s for circus magnate John Ringley and his wife Mable. The name means “House of John” in Venetian dialect, reflecting Ringling’s fascination with the architecture and culture of Venice, Italy.

The Mediterranean Revival architecture, soaring tower, colorful tile work, arched windows, and long waterfront terrace creates an Italian palace transported to Florida. This is the home of the man who helped build the greatest circus empire in America.

Ca’ d’Zan was designed to impress. John Ringling had become enormously wealthy through the success of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, and this home became a visible statement of that success. The Ringling estate reflects the romance and exoticism that captivated wealthy Americans during the 1920s Florida boom.

Inside, the house was filled with European furnishings, fine art, stained glass, carved ceilings and elaborate entertaining spaces for lavish parties and social gatherings. The Ringling’s hosted celebrities, politicians, business leaders and artists during Sarasota’s rise as a glamorous winter destination. Every detail of the home was intended to create an atmosphere of luxury and escape.

Standing along the waterfront at Ca’d’Zan, it is easy to imagine another era. Like so many historic homes, the mansion is beautiful because of its architecture, but also because it preserves the ambitions and personalities of the people who created it.