Sarasota Landmarks and Monuments

(Sarasota, Florida - FL, USA)

Encompassing a circus, sports complexes, historic monuments, imposing landmarks and wacky parks - Sarasota has it all. The seaside city of Sarasota is aptly referred to as 'Circus Capital of the World'.

Circus Sarasota is perhaps the area's most fun landmark and it shares the limelight with the curious Solomon's Park, which features some creative and elaborate oddities and sits directly in a manatee swamp. To load up on some history, further landmarks include the Historic Spanish Point, next to Sarasota, which lends an insight into the early settlers through archaeological digs.

Cà d'Zan Mansion

Address: 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, 34243, Florida FL, USA
Tel: +1 941 359 5700
Part of the Ringling Estate, Sarasota's Cà d'Zan Mansion is a vast building containing 32 rooms, many with views of Sarasota Bay. Featuring an interior court, spectacular Venetian architecture modeled on Venice's Palace of the Doges, a tower measuring 60 feet / 18 meters, and a lavish interior, the Cà d'Zan is one of the most important historic landmarks in the whole of the USA.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 17:30
Admission: charge

Circus Sarasota

Address: Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida FL, USA
Tel: +1 941 355 9335
Sarasota is known as the 'Circus Capital of the World', owing to the amazing Circus Sarasota founded here in 1997. The circus connection with Sarasota has been here for years, with tycoon circus owner John Ringling building a mansion and moving here many years before. Circus Sarasota is based on a European-style circus, with its one ring, and it features tightrope walking, balancing acts, juggling and everything else you'd expect to see at a world-class circus.
Open hours: daily, seasonal variations
Admission: charge, discounts for children

Ed Smith Sports Complex

Address: 2700 12th Street, Sarasota, Florida FL, USA
Tel: +1 941 954 4101
Those with a passion for major league baseball should visit the training home of the Cincinnati Reds at Sarasota's Ed Smith Sports Complex. One of Sarasota's main sporting landmarks, the Reds train here in the spring time. Facilities at the complex are excellent, with the four training fields, a practice field and a covered batting tunnel. Possibly the best time to see the sports complex is during one of the frequent events, with regular car shows and concerts being held here throughout the year.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free

Historic Spanish Point

Address: 337 North Tamiami Trail, Osprey, Florida FL, USA
Tel: +1 941 966 5214
Historic Spanish Point showcases over 5,000 years of history in the Sarasota / Osprey area of Florida and features a collection of houses and trails on a 30-acre / 12-hectare historical site. Archaeology is the main theme of Historic Spanish Point, with the 'A Window to the Past' exhibition being the main highlight. The exhibition shows visitors houses of the early Spanish settlers to Sarasota, of which some are on the National Registry of Historic Places. In addition, there are numerous trails that can be explored as well as an art gallery and informative visitor center.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discount for seniors and children, children under six years free

Solomon's Park

Address: 4533 Solomon Road, Sarasota, Florida FL, USA
Tel: +1 863 494 6007
Solomon's Park is perhaps Sarasota's weirdest, yet most interesting landmark. The park is essentially a huge castle in a manatee swamp, constructed using aluminum printing plates by eccentric sculptor, Howard Solomon. The castle gets even wackier once inside and tours by Solomon himself and other guides reveal an elephant constructed with oil cans, a beer can chair, a coat hanger unicorn and numerous stained-glass windows. The creative theme continues in the castle's restaurant, which resembles a Spanish galleon.
Open hours: September to June, Tuesday to Sunday - 11:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge, discount for children