Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sarasota isn't that big, but sights are spread out and not well served by public transporta-
tion. You'll also want your own car to explore the Keys; while Lido and St Armands are
really just extensions of downtown, Anna Maria Island is 16 miles north.
Take note, many cultural institutions take a break during the summer months.
Ringling Museum Complex
MUSEUM
(
941-359-5700;
www.ringling.org
;
5401 Bay Shore Rd; adult/child 6-17yr $25/5;
10am-5pm
daily, to 8pm Thu; )
The 66-acre winter estate of railroad, real-estate and circus baron John Ringling and his
wife, Mable, is one of the Gulf Coast's premier attractions and incorporates their personal
collection of artworks in what is now Florida's state art museum. Nearby, Ringling's Cir-
cus Museum documents his theatrical successes, while their lavish Venetian Gothic home,
Cà d'Zan, reveals the impresario's extravagant tastes. To get the best out of the complex,
don't miss the PBS-produced film on Ringling's life, which is screened in the
Asolo Rep-
John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art
The Ringlings aspired to become serious art connoisseurs, and they amassed an im-
pressive collection of 14th- to 18th-century European tapestries and paintings. Housed in a
grand Mediterranean-style palazzo, the museum covers 21 galleries showcasing many
Spanish and baroque works, and includes a world-renowned collection of Rubens canvases
including the
Triumph of the Eucharist
cycle. One wing presents rotating exhibits of con-
temporary art, and in 2011 the Searing Wing opened
Joseph's Coat,
a stunning 3000-sq-ft
James Turrell-designed 'Sky Space.'
Cà d'Zan
Ringling's winter home Cà d'Zan (1924-26), or 'House of John,' displays an unmistak-
able theatrical flair evocative of his two favorite Venetian hotels, the Danieli and the Bauer
