If you’ve been to South Beach in Miami, you’ve probably walked past the famous Versace mansion on Ocean Drive. If you’re not sure if you’ve seen it or not, look for a really big mansion with an observatory on the roof, nestled among the cafes, restaurants, and hotels on Ocean Drive. You’ll know you’re getting close when you see the crowds outside its famous doors snapping photos (it’s the third most photographed house in America behind the White House and Graceland).
Before we get into the Versace mansion, we should probably cover a bit of history first. To make it a bit easier to follow, I’ll deliver it to you in easy-to-read bite-sized chunks for an easier understanding of this fascinating life.
Brief biography of Gianni Versace
Versace (born December 2, 1946) was an Italian fashion designer and founder of the international fashion house Gianni Versace. He and his partner, Antonio D’Amico, were openly gay and regulars on the international party scene. He dated some of the biggest icons of our time: Lady Diana, Madonna, and Elton John, just to name a few.
The tragic story of Versace’s death
In 1997, at age 50, and at the top of his fashion game, Gianni went out for his regular morning stroll to the News Cafe on Ocean Drive for breakfast (which was his regular morning ritual when in South Beach). Upon his return, Andrew Cunanan (a 27-year-old serial killer who had been stalking him for over a year) shot him to death outside his mansion. Shortly thereafter, Cunanan turned the gun on himself and committed suicide after fleeing to a nearby boat in a massive standoff with Miami police.
Brief History of the Versace Mansion – Casa Casuarina
Casa Casauarina (as the house is titled) was built in 1930 by architect and philanthropist Alden Freeman, as a tribute to the oldest existing house in the Western Hemisphere, the “Alcázar de Colón” in Santo Domingo. The house in Santo Domingo was the home of Christopher Columbus’s son Diego in 1510. One of the cornerstones of the house actually contains original bricks from the “Alcázar de Colón”.
How Versace got the house
In 1992, on a trip to Miami, Versace first met Casa Casuarina. Although it was very dilapidated, Versace fell in love with it and bought the residence for 3 million dollars. He invested an additional $33 million to restore it. Yeah, he put 33 million into a 3 million dollar house. He exquisitely restored, enlarged, and beautified all of her features. He demolished the adjacent hotel to create the south wing, pool, and garden. The result was a triumph of Italian design and the House soon became part of the world stage.
What happened to the house after Versace’s death
Versace’s inheritance was huge and took several years to settle. To give you an idea of just how big his estate was, he left his 11-year-old niece, Allegra, half a billion dollars. In September 2000, telecommunications executive Peter Loftin bought Casa Casuarina for $20 million from Versace’s sister Donatella (who now runs the famous brand).
The deal she made with Loftin was that she would sell him the house for $20 million, however this did not include the furniture. He took the deal and then sold the furniture for 90 million!
Owning Casa Casauarina has been Loftin’s dream ever since Versace remodeled the house. After Loftin bought it, he was dedicated to both preserving its history and giving it a vibrant new life. He has not made any structural changes, but has done extensive work to preserve its architectural history. He restored all the interior walls and brought back the opulent Versace style with luxurious furnishings and details.
The current state of Casa Casauarina
Loftin initially converted Casa Casuarina into a members-only private club and has since transformed it into a luxury boutique hotel.
