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All the United States Florida Coral Gables Venetian Pool

Venetian Pool

The only swimming pool listed on the National Register of Historic Places is emptied and refilled each day with naturally filtered water.

Coral Gables, Florida

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mrncat
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Venetian Pool   Lima Pix/CC by 2.0
Venetian Pool   Lima Pix/CC by 2.0
A busy day for bathers.   Boston Public Library, Print Department, The Tichnor Brothers Collection/CC by 2.0
Venetian Pool   Matt Kieffer/CC BY-SA 2.0
The pool looks peaceful in this postcard, printed around the middle of the 20th century.   Boston Public Library, Print Department, The Tichnor Brothers Collection/CC by 2.0
The plaque next to the pool.   Graham and Sheila/CC BY 2.0
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About

The largest freshwater swimming pool in the U.S., the Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is a one-of-a-kind water feature that is emptied and refilled every day during the summer just to keep the waters fresh and clean.

Built in 1923 out of the remains of an abandoned coral rock quarry, the public pool was modeled after a Venetian grotto with the intention of bringing a piece of Mediterranean style to the States. A scenic bridge was built overlooking the pool, along with mooring posts for gondolas that were to be able to pull right up to the pool, although this feature was later scrapped. The pool also connects to a number of natural grotto caves that swimmers can explore.

The water in the Venetian Pool is always a clean and clear shade of blue, thanks to the unique natural filtering system. During its early years, the pool was drained each day and the water freshly replenished from artesian springs on the site. This process, however, came under fire when water conservationists warned that it was draining local aquifers. In response, a new system was devised to drain the pool water back into the aquifer, allowing natural filtration to clean up the wastewater. During Florida’s hot spring and summer, this refilling system is still in place, creating a pool of perfectly crisp water to swim in each day.

The constant draining of the pool has also allowed it to be used for events such as symphony concerts, which take advantage of the empty quarry’s natural acoustics. The Venetian Pool is the only swimming pool to be protected by the National Register of Historic Places, making it a site that should run swimmingly for years to come.

Related Tags

Swimming Pools Quarries Natural Wonders Nature

Know Before You Go

The public pool is located in the city of Coral Gables just outside Miami. Admission is $13 for non-resident adults and $5.50 for locals. The hours vary depending on the season, so check the city website for details.

Go early. The pool stops selling tickets once it's reached capacity, which can easily happen before lunch in the summer.

Community Contributors

Added By

mrncat

Edited By

annakovach, Mom0ja, leslipeterson, thescousewife...

  • annakovach
  • Mom0ja
  • leslipeterson
  • thescousewife
  • EricGrundhauser
  • jessicahester1
  • tiffy303
  • wherearewedude

Published

March 13, 2014

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_Pool
  • http://www.coralgables.com/index.aspx?page=167
  • https://365atlantatraveler.com/free-things-to-do-in-miami/
Venetian Pool
2701 De Soto Blvd
Coral Gables, Florida, 33134
United States
25.745695, -80.273233
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Coral Gables

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Coral Gables

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