Uncovering Ca’ d’Zan Tour

Docents at The Ringling lead this specialized architectural tour through the upper floors and private quarters of Ca’ d’Zan, the 1926 winter residence of John and Mable Ringling. Moving beyond the ground-floor entertaining spaces, the guided walk explores the mansion’s guest rooms, the game room, and the belvedere tower overlooking Sarasota Bay. The discussion centers on the building’s Venetian Gothic design, originally drafted by architect Dwight James Baum, as well as the structural challenges of preserving its extensive terra-cotta ornamentation in a coastal climate. The tour requires navigating multiple narrow staircases within the historic home.