Senen M A Antonio Biltmore

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T h e B i l t m o r e H o t e l

The BIltmore Hotel is located in the City of Coral Gables, which is distinct from, and south of, the City of Miami.

Photo credits: (Left Middle) www.biltmorehotel.com

Coral Gables was founded by developer George Merrick, and is largely known for its affluent and opulent residential neighborhoods. Large Mediterranean style homes sit behind wide canopied banyan trees along quiet and stately thoroughfares. The hotel's Rennaissance revival architecture fits in perfectly within this elegant context (the tower is in fact a replica of the Giralda Cathedral Bell Tower in Seville).

Merrick and hotel magnate John McEntee developed The Biltmore in the mid 1920's. It was not surprising for the hotel to have been the center of South Florida high society so soon after its opening. Its list of distinguished guests include the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Vanderbilts, Babe Ruth, Judy Garland and Bing Crosby. Johnny Weissmuller (of Olympic and Tarzan fame), would put on aquatic shows at the pool, today still the largest hotel swimming pool in the continental United States. But perhaps the hotel's most infamous resident was Al Capone, whose favorite room was the Everglade Suite, located in the Campanile Tower; of course those in the loop call it simply the Capone Suite.

The hotel's second lease on life was due in large part to Gene Prescott of the Seaway Hotel Corporation. Huge efforts and expense were put into the faithful refurbishing of the hotel interiors, rooms, grounds, golf course and landscaping.

By the mid-90's, the hotel was restored to its former glory. Today, stately colonnades reveal glimpses of Spanish courtyards. Trellised walkways connect the main building to other pavilions. Fountains mark the centers of lush zaguans.

The main lobby features oversized mahogany and brass birdcages, under a dramatic azure vaulted ceiling. Relics and mementos from the Hotel's historic past are also displayed here and throughout the hotel.

Click here for an interactive map of the Miami area

Miami, Florida

The Biltmore is one of only a few resort hotels in South Florida listed as National Historic Landmarks. It is a popular venue for weddings, receptions, galas, photo shoots and even music videos (Christina Aguilera and Ricky Martin filmed a video at various locations in the Biltmore -- see if you can recognize some of them in the video).

THE WAVERLY + SOUTH BEACH + LINCOLN ROAD + DOWNTOWN/DESIGN DISTRICT + THE BILTMORE HOTEL + VIZCAYA + WEST PALM BEACH + THE KEYS

Nearby off DeSoto Circle is the Venetian Pool. It is a public pool formed out of a coral quarry in 1923. It uses over 800,000 gallons of water daily and features Italian-style pergolas, coral caves, stone bridges, an island and waterfalls. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

My Dad had a reservation for a suite at The Biltmore 36 years ago, for the princely sum of $16 a night. He never made it to Miami because he was sidetracked by my Grandma to accompany her to Europe instead. When he came to visit late last year, the hotel was definite stop on his itinerary. Who knows if they would have still honored his reservation at the same rate 40 years later?

Visitors and guests can dine at any one of four award-wnning restaurants, have a round of golf at the hotel course, sample wines and cigars at the Cellar, decompress at the spa, or just wander freely around the beautiful buildings and grounds.