Miami’s Historic Venetian Pool

On a hot summer day, there is nothing better than a dip in the pool and as a resident of Coral Gables, I have one of the world’s most unique swimming venues at my disposal: the Venetian Pool. The pool was created from a coral rock quarry and was designed by noted architect Phineas Paist and artist Denman Fink. It was opened as the "Venetian Casino" in 1924 and, of course, it was modeled after the architecture of Venice, Italy, including two lookout towers, a bridge, and mooring posts. At one point, there were even gondolas in the pool, although those no longer exist.

Aside from its history – the Venetian Pool is actually the only swimming spot listed on the National Register of Historic Places – one interesting thing to note about it is how cold it is! You see, the pool is filled with spring water from the underground aquifer, and the water is changed daily during the busy spring and summer months. At 820,000 gallons, that is a lot of water for the sun to heat over the course of a day, so it is always chilly!

I highly recommend that locals and tourists alike visit the Venetian Pool. Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your ticket online at www.playgables.com!