Villa Zorayda Museum

The Villa Zorayda Museum, built by Franklin Smith in 1883, was designed to be a private home, built 1/10th the scale of a portion of the Moorish castle, the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. This Gilded Age property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In addition to the magnificent architecture, the museum contains a collection of antiques and fine art featuring paintings, 17th-century furniture, beautiful hanging brass lamps, oriental rugs, and an Egyptian rug more than 2,400 years old that had been found in one of the pyramids in Egypt.

Click the 360 image below to look around.

The Villa Zorayda Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The last admission is 30 minutes before closing time.

On-site parking is free while visiting the museum. State-of-the-art self-guided audio tours are available in English, Spanish, and French. For additional information, please call (904) 829-9887.

Specialty Tours

Holiday Candlelight Tours

The Villa Zorayda Museum offers its annual candlelight tours on select evenings during the Nights of Lights celebration. The Villa Zorayda is beautifully decorated for the holidays, with a spectacular Christmas tree decorated in Zorayda colors (red and gold) and located center stage in the Court of Lions. The candlelight tours take place every year and have become a local tradition during the holiday season. The candles, hanging brass lamps, and Christmas decorations combine with the original art and antiques on display to create a truly magical effect. All tours include homemade cookies and a nonalcoholic beverage served after the tour. For tickets or more information about the Candlelight Tours, visit here.

Weddings and Special Events

The Moorish Court is a unique venue for special events and is a lovely place to hold an intimate wedding ceremony or elopement. 

For wedding ceremonies, the Villa Zorayda Museum suggests the Court of Lions, which is a beautiful space for photos, with the horseshoe arches, columns, and hanging brass lamps. The museum can accommodate wedding ceremonies for up to 60 guests in this architectural masterpiece. Those who want an even more intimate wedding in this beautiful, historic property can opt for an elopement for up to 10 guests (or none at all). 

Call (904) 829-9887 or email Villa Zorayda for details on renting this spectacular venue for a truly memorable occasion. To learn more, visit the wedding section on their website.