Villa di Amore is a stunning Italian Renaissance styled home on Sarasota Bay. 270-degree views of water extend for miles taking in Longboat Key and Sarasota’s north shore, home to the gilded era mansions Ca d’Zan built by John Ringling and the palatial pink marble palace of brother Charles Ringling. The grandeur of this property pays homage to the European influences established by these earlier residents. Matching travertine stairways with decorative, wrought iron railings wind up to the stately double, mahogany front doors. An entry foyer, framed in columns supporting a triple archway leads to the great room with a soaring 24-foot ceiling. Light sparkles on the bay and streams in from all angles through palladium styled windows and high transoms creating almost complete walls of glass. This room is perfect to greet and entertain around the fireplace with a custom carved mantle. Polished marble floors are throughout this first level which includes a complete bar with beverage coolers, a beer tap and lit cabinetry. The adjacent “caterers” kitchen includes twin Dacor four-burner gas ranges with a stainless vent hood, two warming drawers, two KithenAid dishwashers and a French door Sub-Zero 650 refrigerator and freezer. Granite countertops and solid cherry wood cabinetry align with other design elements creating a warmth and continuity throughout. The kitchen overlooks a combination dining & family room which shares unobstructed bay views and opens to a large terrace for indoor/outdoor living. Rounding out the “east wing” is a large pantry and walk in laundry with floor to ceiling cabinetry. The “west wing” holds two of the five bedrooms providing some privacy for guests or family. An elevator serves all levels, but you may prefer the stairway with turned iron balusters supporting a wood railing. This leads to the second living level with a 2,200 square foot “owners retreat” complete with a sitting room, fireplace, bayfront balcony, walk in closets, changing rooms and a resort quality bath with a walk-in rain-shower and separate pedestal tub. Two additional bedrooms, mirroring the first-floor west wing and a 200-bottle temperature-controlled wine room are also on the second level. Outdoors, there’s a pool large enough for laps with a grotto styled lounging shelf and gas heated spa. This area is perfect for all day entertaining with a custom designed, live edge, wood bar and waterside “fire bowl” to gather around and fully enjoy sunsets and nighttime star gazing. The private boat dock with a 13,000-pound lift also has a separate platform for smaller toys like jet skis and paddle boards. This location provides immediate access to Sarasota Bay and nearby New Pass leading to the Gulf of Mexico. No fixed bridges to the Gulf allows for sailboats and a wide variety of other watercraft. Villa di Amore has over 7,000 square feet of living area, 2,300 square feet of elegant terraces, a 4-car garage, bonus rooms “on grade” and all the recreational amenities you need for a full Florida lifestyle in this highly desirable Sarasota neighborhood of Ringling Point, an intimate cul de sac of only 11 homes. Live here amidst Sarasota’s most significant cultural & educational institutions and you’re only 2 miles north of downtown Sarasota, a 4 mile drive to St. Armands Circle and the beaches of Lido and Longboat Key and an equal distance to University Parkway anchored on the west by SRQ International Airport and the UTC shopping district and I75 on the east.
