The opulent home of Gianni Versace gives us a peek into his extravagant lifestyle
The debut of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story — on January 17 — has sparked a renewed interest in the Versace Mansion, the opulent property on Miami Beach that Gianni Versace once called home. The Mediterranean-style mansion framed with black iron gates and outfitted with elaborate balconies was an attention-grabber even before the revolutionary Italian designer Versace was shot dead on its front steps in 1997.
While the show rehashes the tragic events that took place more than 20 years ago — examining in detail the life of spree killer Andrew Cunanan, whose final act before committing suicide was to gun down famed fashion designer on July 15, 1997 — it also gives viewers an in-depth look at Versace's intricate villa where a large part of the filming took place.
Globally recognised as the third most photographed property in the US — after the White House and the Elvis Presley's Graceland Mansion in Memphis — Versace's three-story villa is an opulent and private oasis in the heart of South Beach where he once entertained Princess Diana and Madonna. The artistic mansion features marble floors, dazzling mozaics, elegant gardens, and a spectacular swimming poll inlaid with gold. Through the grand doors stands a Kneeling Aphrodite statue, built in 1928, and a courtyard surrounded by the four Pillars of Democracy.
Keep scrolling down for a guided tour inside the sprawling mansion, which has since been converted into a boutique hotel known as The Villa, Casa Casuarina.