The most expensive home currently on the market in Sarasota, Florida, is an extravagant mansion on the shores of Little Sarasota Bay. Listed for $28.35 million by Steve Wexler of Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, the home invoked the sensibility of an Italian villa and was inspired by Gianni Versace’s Casa Casuarina in Miami’s South Beach. There are grand European details and opulent interiors that might catch Versace’s eye, and the perimeter of the entire property, located within the prestigious gated community of Oyster Bay, is walled for added security.

You enter the 1.25-acre estate via a wrought-iron gate and continue to the landscaped motor court, which is lined with palm trees. The Neoclassical mansion was built in 1992 but underwent an extensive renovation in 2020, which was spearheaded by classically trained Italian architect Andrea Gallo. The goal was to create an “Old World” residence through handcrafted detail and bespoke customizations. The palatial 9,225-square-foot home has four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms spread across two levels. 

In order to really hone in and perfect the authentic European vibe, Gallo traveled alongside the homeowner throughout Europe, including Italy, for both inspiration and raw materials, including marble for the flooring, stone for the outdoor walkways, and roof tiles that were imported from Italy. A double staircase leads you to the front entrance, an imposing double-height archway. Inside, there are black and white checkered marble floors, soaring double-height ceilings, and intricate motifs that adorn stair railings and columns.

Other unique details include Roman columns, Venetian plaster walls, custom moldings, coffered ceilings, 23-karat gold leaf details, and hand-painted frescoes. The home’s foyer has a sit-in bar on one side and a formal dining room on the other. The wrought-iron balustrades that line the second-floor gallery overlooking the foyer feature a Greek key pattern and gold medallions, both motifs Versace employed in his clothing and jewelry designs. 

The heart of the home is the light-filled great room with many arched windows overlooking Sarasota Bay and a continuation of the foyer’s bar. There are two ultra-luxe primary suites, each with a private sitting room and a lavish bathroom; the two additional bedrooms are also en suite. Other spaces include a pair of offices, a family room with a fireplace, and a Clive Christian-inspired kitchen with a massive central island for food prep. Should that not be enough, there’s a catering kitchen behind.

The entire home is wrapped by a covered porch featuring cypress ceilings and fans for taking the edge off Florida’s sweltering heat and humidity. Plenty of outdoor seating allows for al fresco entertaining year-round. There’s also a tiled terrace drenched in sunlight, perfect for basking in the Florida rays, and the pool resembles the pool at Casa Casuarina. There’s also a hot tub, a summer kitchen, and 140 feet of bayfrontage with a private dock and boat lift that can hold up to 20,000 pounds. Adding to its appeal for boaters, the Field Club, an exclusive yacht club, is in convenient proximity.

Click here for more photos of the Sarasota villa.