Venetian Pool In Coral Gables Stock Photo

Venetian Pool in beautiful Coral Gables, Florida. Originally a rock quarry, the Venetian Pool is situated in a residential area of Coral Gables. Used as a source of coral rock for construction during the early years of Coral Gables, the quarry was later turned into a public pool. Coral Gables Corporation architect Phineas E. Paist and artistic advisor Denman Fink designed a pool inspired by the lagoons of Venice. The Venetian Pool was completed in 1924. The pool is surrounded by several Spanish style buildings, a garden patio and a grotto. The grotto is carved from the coral rock of the quarry walls with waterfalls, a cave and a rock diving platform. Spanning one section of the pool is a Venetian style bridge leading to an artificial island with large palm trees. The terra cotta roof tiles, observation towers and loggias of the pool's buildings continue a tradition of Mediterranean-inspired design found throughout Coral Gables.