Overlooking the calm blue waters of Biscayne Bay, this ornate Italian Renaissance-style villa and its formal gardens embody the fantasy winter retreat of their builder, Illinois entrepreneur James Deering. Vizcaya took 1,000 workers more than two years to complete. The 34 rooms that are open to the public incorporate elements of four major styles: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassical. Two floors of rooms surround a central courtyard (now roofed to protect the priceless art within). More than 10 acres of formal gardens, planned by Colombian architect Diego Suarez, flank the mansion's south side.