Inside the Gianni Versace Mansion: Did ‘American Crime Story’ Get It Right?
Inside the Gianni Versace Mansion: Did ‘American Crime Story’ Get It Right?
Ralf Lutter/ullstein bild via Getty Images
Gianni Versace is back in the public eye, thanks to the new FX series “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” which premiered last night to big ratings.
This nine-episode series recounts the superstar fashion designer’s 1997 murder, committed by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, on the steps of Versace’s palatial home in Miami Beach. While watching this horrific crime unfold is riveting, to be sure, what’s just as fascinating (particularly to us at realtor.com®) is Versace’s house itself. Seriously, it is over. The. Top!
Called Casa Casuarina, Versace’s Mediterranean-style mansion is now a boutique hotel named The Villa Casa Casuarina, and the third-most photographed property in the United States, right behind the White House and Graceland. The setting was used to film parts of this series. Which got us wondering: How closely does the home lavishly displayed on our TVs resemble the original residence where Versace once lived?
To find out, we took screenshots from the series and compared them to archived photographs of the home back when Versace lived there. We have to say that, in general, the producers did a fantastic job of representing the home as it truly was, in all its gold-plated, mosaic-tiled glory. Check ’em out!
The Versace mansion entrance
The reality: Here’s a 1997 photo of Casa Casuarina’s entrance, right where Versace was assassinated as he was coming back from a morning stroll. The majestic black iron gates trimmed in gold make for a haunting backdrop for this grisly murder.
In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images
The TV version: And here’s a shot from the series. We’d say that looks pretty accurate, except for the addition of some potted palm trees flanking the steps. The plants are a nice addition!
FX
The Versace mansion foyer
The reality: Here’s a 1996 photograph of the foyer right inside the front door. Talk about a grand entrance! You have to love the courtyard, which lets you look up at the loggias above and the sky.
Marc Serota/Getty Images
The TV version: And here’s a shot from the TV show. It’s taken from the opposite end of the foyer, so it looks a little different, but you can easily see that the film crew went all out to replicate every detail, right down to the patio cushions.
FX
The Versace mansion pool
The reality: Here’s a 1997 shot of Versace’s courtyard swimming pool, with its ample lounge area. And although you can’t see it, the pool is lined with 24-karat gold tile.
Marc Serota/Getty Images
The TV version: This time, the “American Crime Story” film crew wasn’t quite as faithful to the original, adding green couch cushions rather than the black ones above. But hey, maybe Versace had numerous cushion sets that he swapped out based on his mood.
FX
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