THE MIAMI AREA
The metropolitan city of Miami with its international airport and striking skyline of monolithic buildings glinting in the sun is an important financial and commercial centre. The skyscrapers hold the key to Miami’s recognition as a world city – this is the “Gateway to the Americas,” a cultural centre and the hub of business where Spanish is spoken by a large proportion of the population. Trade with the Americas is evident in the flourishing Port of Miami where you’ll also see the largest cruise liners in the world.
The city stands mainly on the shores of Biscayne Bay with its strands of man-made and natural barrier islands. Warmed by the waters of the Gulf Stream, the largest of these barrier islands is home to the cities of Miami Beach and South Beach where the balmy climate and stunning coastline is a magnet for the rich and famous and, of course, for tourists. Miami Beach and its neighbouring South Beach rate high in the ranks of places to see and be seen. The playground of celebrities, these are cities that never sleep and to which international fashion designers flock to show their designs; fashion shoots and movie-making are everyday events and foodies find just about every type of international cuisine available. The area is all about sun, surf and sand, with rollerblading and promenading popular pursuits, but at night Miami Beach pulsates beneath a radiance of neon light as its spectacular nightclubs, restaurants and bars spring to life. South Beach owes much of its heritage to a land boom in the 1920s which was followed by an architectural renaissance in the 1930s, producing some of the great Art Deco buildings for which it is renowned the world over. Glitz and glamour have been a feature of the city ever since, with fashionistas following in the footsteps of such great names as Gianni Versace who made his home here. The Versace mansion is a popular stop on the tourist trail and for shopaholics, designer fashion shops abound alongside galleries and venues for the arts.
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