Venetian Pool (Coral Gables, Florida)

 swimming pool, interesting place

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Formed from a rock quarry in 1923, Venetian Pool is included in the National Register of Historic Places. This 820,000-gallon pool is fed with cool spring water daily, and features two waterfalls and coral caves.

The Venetian Pool, with its vine-covered loggias, shady porticos and cascading waterfalls, is one of the City’s most beautiful and popular landmarks. Fed by underground artesian wells, it was once a quarry pit, its only value being the limestone it produced for the construction of that time. Through the creative efforts of Denman Fink and Phineas Paist, this eyesore was transformed in 1924 to what was then called Venetian Casino.

During its heyday, gondolas plied its waters. Movie stars, such as Esther Williams and Johnny Weismuller of Tarzan fame, swam its length. The orchestras of Paul Whitman & Jan Garber serenaded pool-side dancers; and bathing beauties by the hundreds promenaded across specially-constructed walkways, while visiting dignitaries toured "the world’s most beautiful swimming hole."

Today, Venetian Pool has more than 100,000 annual visitors and three generations of Gables residents have learned to swim there – all captivated by the charm of the setting and invigorated by the clear, cool water. Venetian Pool is drained nightly during summer months, its 820,000 gallons of water replenished each day from the subterranean aquifer that flows beneath it. At one point, this practice was scheduled to be discontinued in order to preserve South Florida’s water supply. But, in 1988, a method was found that would allow the pool to replenish its water without diminishing natural resources by recycling the water, through ground filtration, back into the aquifer. This new technology, along with a complete restoration of the facility, will ensure that the Venetian Pool will continue to be a joy for our residents and visitors for many years to come.

2701 De Soto Blvd
Coral Gables, FL 33134-4845
(305) 460-5306
www.venetianpool.com/

www.atlasobscura.com/places/venetian-pool