Place to see: Versace Mansion, Miami, Florida, United States

About this place:

This fantastic Mediterranean-style palazzo on Miami Beach's Ocean Drive built in 1930 as an apartment complex, was the stately retreat of celebrated fashion designer, Gianni Versace. Named Casa Casuarina, in honor of Somerset Maugham whose story collection has been called "The Casuarina Tree," the mansion is situated in the heart of Miami's Art Deco district. Versace, thrilled by the excitement of Ocean Drive, bought it on the spot in 1992, with the intention of resembling the Santo Domingo home of Diego Columbus, the famed explorer's son. He transformed the building into a 13,000-square-foot mansion, creating 25 bedrooms and bathrooms, and elaborately decorated the rooms. The lavish villa is now being transformed into a private club, but will continue to reflect the unique and disparate personas of its two most prominent owners.