Villa Vecchia

Constructed in 1928 by renowned architect L.M. Barrett for Byron D. Miller Esq., president of the F.W. Woolworth Co., this stunning 18,000-plus-square-foot gated compound is in Miami Beach. The rare masterpiece has hosted more political dignitaries than any other home in Miami. The estate commands 250 feet of water frontage and is on a two-acre parcel on the widest span of the Indian Creek waterway.

Comprised of three buildings and tucked away behind stately mahogany and iron gates, Villa Vecchia features 13 bedrooms, 12 baths, and breathtaking views of the water and the estate’s award-winning private gardens.

Each room in Villa Vecchia is, in itself, a regal work of art, offering the ultimate in today’s luxuries with the ambiance of yesterday’s pleasures. In the residence, fully restored to its celebrated glory, elegant details abound including custom crown molding, chandeliers, archways, wide windows, murals and artfully crafted terrazzo and hardwood floors. Adding to its grandeur, the main home boasts an elegant, 150-guest ballroom — reminiscent of Versailles and the site of numerous important events with such guests as Dr. Henry Kissinger, Margaret Thatcher and President Bill Clinton — as well as a grand master suite and a gentleman’s library.

The grand compound features a resort-style pool and pavilion with full kitchen and bar, all adjacent to a waterfront gazebo. Other amenities include a waterfront dock, which can accommodate a yacht of 100 feet, a playground and four fountains spread throughout the lush grounds. Extensively renovated, the estate also offers the convenience of a new whole-house generator, impact windows, elevator, two-bedroom guest house with a living room and kitchen, and a detached gym with steam room.