Observation and/or research on a local building in Miami - Essay Example

Up to date, the marvelous building is being used as a backdrop for movies, weddings, and commercials. It has also remained a popular attraction to tourists. Spanish Monastery is located at 16711 West Dixie Hwy., North Miami Beach. These are among the reasons why I chose to write about this awesome building in North Miami, the Spanish Monastery. The location appears silent and peaceful and someone may assume the building is located far from the residential areas. This building is worth visiting.

It has cool environs that are perfect for mediation and reflection. The Spanish Monastery, also referred to as the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux is today nearly nine hundred years old. Interestingly as stated in the above paragraph, the building was originally in Segovia, Spain. The construction was successfully completed in 1141 in Spain. The building was then converted into a granary due to difficult economic times until 1925 when a newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst decided to purchase the building and carried it in pieces to America and erected it where it is currently located, North of Miami.

As I indicated earlier, I chose this building because of its rich history. . In the year 1952 after his death the pieces were auctioned off to two Miami entrepreneurs who needed to build tourist attraction. The project was completed by the entrepreneurs, however it never matched what William Randolph Hearst had hoped to erect. The building was again purchased in the 1960s by a multimillionaire who donated it to the Episcopal Church. The building was erected on the grounds of an old nursery and had an estimated cost of $1.5 million. It took almost two years to reconstruct with several hundred pieces left over after completion.

The building is today a popular choice for couples, movie stars and other social functions. An early booking is required in order to use the building due to the high demand. Singer/entertainer Brittney Spears acted as Bridesmaid in 2011 when her assistant Brett Miller married. Causeing extra publicity for the established Monastery as a premium location for weddings was unnecessary as evidenced by many who are married their yearly; though nuptials are expensive at the Monastery it is a beautiful fairy tale stting meant to be a once in a life time experience.

Due to its strategic location which is near primarily residential areas, with some restaurants, parks, and the Arthur Snyder Tennis Complex, it suits the purpose of many people. The entrance of the building is also very impressive and the neighborhood is remarkable. Its entrance blends in with the landscape of the other buildings in the area. Within the building, there are cloisters, architecture, carvings, stained glass; statuesque scenes in the gardens and old world atmosphere impress you upon entrance.

As I stated earlier,