Serial killer Andrew Cunanan murdered Gianni Versace on the front steps of the fashion designer's Miami Beach mansion in 1997, and now those stone steps provide the backdrop for dozens of tourist photos on a daily basis.
But not only can tourists (and fans of FX's upcoming American Crime Story miniseries, which focuses on the murder) photograph the house, they can stay there overnight. Scroll down for a look inside the boutique luxury hotel known as the Villa Casa Casuarina.
The three-story building was originally built as an apartment complex by Mayflower descendant and Standard Oil heir Alden Freeman in 1930.
In 1992, Versace purchased the original house for $2.95 million and the Revere Hotel next door for $3.7 million. He spent an astonishing $32 million on renovations that included demolishing the Revere to make way for a pool, garden, and new south wing of the home.
Versace turned the 24 apartments into 10 large suites in the original house.
The designer built an additional two suites in the south wing.
He lined the pool with 24-karat gold tiles.
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The Victor Hotels group paid $41.5 million for the property at a 2013 auction. (Donald Trump reportedly put in a bid, too.)
In addition to the guestrooms, it operates the restaurant Gianni's, which "offers a delicious blend of Italian and Mediterranean food and wine selections." Decadent dishes include gnocchi di granchio, with New Orleans blue crab, vermouth wine, shallots, parmigiano-reggiano, truffles, and filetto di manzo rossini, with eight-ounce Wagyu filet mignon, pomme confit, grilled asparagus, pan-seared foie gras, and Bordelaise jus.
Reservations are required for dinner, but guests can walk into the bar for drinks.
American Crime Story was filmed over the course of about a month at the hotel.
Producer Ryan Murphy told the New York Post he couldn’t believe that he received permission to shoot the series there. "I don’t think I could have made the show if I couldn’t have gotten that house,” he said. “There was no way you could build [a set] of it. Two of the rooms were made out of seashells. [Gianni Versace’s sister] Donatella [Versace] took all the furniture and the art when she sold the house, but through pictures we were able to recreate them."
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A resident artist maintains the artwork that Versace commissioned for the property.
"We actually have preserved what Versace created here and just augmented it with some modern touches for the convenience of our hotel guests and restaurant patrons," Chauncey Copeland, the hotel’s general manager, told the Associated Press.
They include this mosaic of Versace's signature Medusa head.
The Villa Suite is the designer's former room.
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The Venus Suite was where his sister Donatella Versace stayed.
Rates for one-bedroom suites start at $1,199 per night.
The hotel is on Ocean Drive, a few steps away from the Atlantic Ocean.
The blue-and-cream-colored Azure Suite includes a king bed and two full-sized beds/sitting alcoves.
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Contributing Digital Editor
Sam Dangremond is a Contributing Digital Editor at Town & Country, where he covers men's style, co*cktails, travel, and the social scene.
I'm an avid enthusiast of true crime, history, and luxury accommodations, and my knowledge extends to the intriguing case involving serial killer Andrew Cunanan and the murder of Gianni Versace in 1997. With a profound interest in the subject matter, I can confidently delve into the details surrounding the iconic location that now stands as a luxury hotel known as the Villa Casa Casuarina.
Firstly, let's discuss the historical context. The three-story building that houses the hotel was originally constructed as an apartment complex by Alden Freeman in 1930, a Mayflower descendant and heir to the Standard Oil fortune. In 1992, Gianni Versace acquired the property for $2.95 million and purchased the adjacent Revere Hotel for $3.7 million. What followed were extensive renovations, with Versace investing a staggering $32 million to transform the space into a lavish residence.
Versace converted the 24 original apartments into 10 large suites within the main house and added two more suites in the south wing. Notably, he adorned the pool area with opulence, lining it with 24-karat gold tiles, adding to the grandeur of the estate.
The property changed hands in 2013 when the Victor Hotels group acquired it for $41.5 million at an auction, with reports suggesting that Donald Trump also made a bid. Today, the hotel operates with guest accommodations and features the restaurant Gianni's, offering a delectable blend of Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.
In terms of aesthetics, the hotel maintains the artistic legacy commissioned by Versace. A resident artist is responsible for preserving and augmenting the original artwork, including a mosaic of Versace's signature Medusa head. Notably, the Villa Suite, once Gianni Versace's room, and the Venus Suite, where his sister Donatella Versace stayed, are among the prominent accommodations.
The luxury comes at a price, with rates starting at $1,199 per night for one-bedroom suites and $749 per night for Superior Suites. The hotel's location on Ocean Drive, just steps away from the Atlantic Ocean, adds to its allure.
The hotel gained additional prominence when it served as the backdrop for the filming of the American Crime Story miniseries. Ryan Murphy, the producer, expressed his disbelief at securing permission to shoot at the actual location, emphasizing the authenticity it brought to the production.
In conclusion, the Villa Casa Casuarina stands not only as a testament to the tragic history associated with Gianni Versace's murder but also as a luxurious retreat that seamlessly blends historical opulence with modern amenities.
