The mansion the circus built: See inside the 56-room Florida home built by the Ringling family a century ago

The central court, which houses a grand piano and custom ceiling panels, was the heart of the mansion.

The central court was meant to be the center of entertaining at the mansion. It features a 1892 Steinway grand piano and an Aeolian organ to soundtrack the Ringlings' gatherings.

Colored glass windows bring Sarasota's Gulf Coast into the mansion.

Throughout the mansion, including in the central court, windows feature colored glass panels, which create a warm atmosphere inside the home and add layers of dimension to the interior design.

The ballroom and its ornate ceiling are standout features of the property.

The grand ballroom's gilded ceiling features custom artwork by illustrator Willy Pogany.

The ballroom ceiling is comprised of 22 custom canvases.

In "Dancers of Nations," 22 canvas paintings depicting dancers of different times and cultures are arranged in octagonal frames.

A place for informal dining, the breakfast room sits on the other side of the mansion.

The room gave diners views of the Sarasota Bay through colored-glass windows similar to ones in the central court.

The kitchen features cutting-edge technology of the time, like refrigerators and electric stoves.

Other cutting-edge technology in the mansion included an annunciator system that allowed guests to ring the butler's pantry for service.

The formal dining room features design inspirations from all over the Mediterranean.

The painted plaster ceiling is inspired by Islamic design, per the mansion's audio tour. The room decorations draw inspiration from the Italianate aesthetic of the 19th century.

The wooden table had 20 leaves that could extend to host a large number of guests.

In another display of early 20th-century technology, the mansion has a private elevator.

The elevator was one of the first ever installed in a private residence in Florida.

Often, guests arrived by sea.

While the main entrance to the property was located on land, guests were often welcomed on the bayfront terrace and its waterside dock.

The historic mansion has been hit by many hurricanes, most recently by Milton and Helene.

As of July 2025, the upper floors of the historic mansion remain closed to the public as restoration efforts continue on the property.

The mansion was heavily affected by last year's hurricane season, with its basement flooding and disrupting electrical functions, and it was closed to the public between September and December 2024.

The Ringling estate in Sarasota is also home to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

As well as Ca' d'Zan, the Ringling estate, which expands over 66 acres, also includes the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art.

The museum, which houses over 10,000 pieces, opened to the public for select exhibitions in 1930. It opened permanently in 1932.

Visitors to Ca' d'Zan can also enjoy the Ringlings' circus museum.

The museum documents the evolution of the circus empire that built the Ringling family's wealth and legacy.

The Ringlings' legacy continues to dazzle visitors.

Whether it's the Venetian architecture, Gilded Age artifacts, or circus history that attracts visitors, the 66-acre Ringling estate and its extensive collections offer a unique and immersive experience, allowing visitors to travel through the extravagant displays of wealth of the turn of the century and the diverse worldly landscapes that inspired the design of Ca' d'Zan.