Venetian Pool
A limestone quarry provided the materials to build this, one of the most mesmerising public swimming pools in the world. Coral caves and waterfalls decorate it with a genuine celestial beauty, which seems far from anything on earth. Created in 1923 by Denman Fink and Phineas Paist, it is decorated in true Venetian style, combining a cobbled bridge, dreamy water fountains, passages entwined with grapevines and crystal clear waters, which invite you to dive right in. The place to be in Coral Gables during its inaugural years, the Venetian Pool is now the only one of its kind; an ideal spot to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Biltmore Hotel
The Coral Gables community was de- signed by George Edgar Merrick (1886- 1942), one of the visionaries committed to the urban development of Miami. The Biltmore Hotel is one of the most lavish and spectacular buildings in this area, whose construction cost some ten million dollars. Its most striking feature is the tower, which resembles the Giralda in Seville, while its history is enthralling. In the 1920s – its golden era – the hotel put up a list of celebrities from Al Capone, through to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and US singer and actress Judy Garland.

Used in the Second World War as a military hospital, it was later converted to a hospital for war veterans, which it remained until 1968.

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Downtown Miami
The shopping and business centre abounds with tall skyscrapers, government buildings and cultural centres. It is also home to the world’s biggest cruise ship port, as well as the bustling Bayside Marketplace, a shopping and leisure complex right on the seafront, set around a small pier dotted with bars, shops, restaurants, a variety of stalls and docks offering boats for hire.

This is the main stop for water taxis and the boarding point for boats offering tours around the bay.

The coastal skyline is dominated by the American Airlines Arena, a stadium regularly packed to the rafters with more than 20.000 spectators during Miami Heat NBA games and music concerts. The Gusman Center for the Performing Arts, the flamboyant venue of the Miami Film Festival and other cultural events, is also located nearby.

Bricknell Avenue, which less than a century ago was merely a developing settlement, is now lined with the biggest banks and international company head offices.

The Metromover, a raised automatic monorail that operates without a driver, allows fantastic views of the heart of the metropolis. Some of the financial district’s towering giants include the Wachovia Financial Centre and the Bank of America, noted for their changing night-lighting.

Little Havana
The Cuban exile capital since the 1960s, every inch of Little Havana radiates patriotic nostalgia. The first Caribbeans to reach the coast settled in the south east of Calle Ocho, adapting their surroundings to remind them of their beloved homeland.

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The United States is a country that spans several time zones.

Miami is 5 hours behind GMT. Florida is known as The Sunshine State, and rightly so: the climate is one of its main attractions, with sunshine and high temperatures nearly all year round – so don’t forget to take your sun cream. However, the heat can sometimes be alleviated by a cool ocean breeze.

Peak season falls in winter in Europe and in the rest of the United States, so it is a good idea to visit Miami between April and October when accommodation is cheaper and there are more rooms available.

Summers are scorching, and are only made worse by the stifling humidity.

The average temperature in August, the muggiest month of all, ranges from 26oC to 31oC. During the other months, there is no great variation in temperature but it can be far less humid. This humidity heats up the surrounding waters and generates storms, which can be common on summer afternoons.

The wettest month is June. Hurricanes, which are very prevalent in the gulf of Mexico, occur mainly between July and October. You should consult the weather forecast daily to check for any incoming weather fronts, as it can sometimes be necessary to evacuate the area.

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