Three Things: The Very Best

The recent sale of the Melk mansion on Siesta Key for more than $10 million is the latest reminder that our area has some pretty fabulous real estate. We have homes and estates that can dazzle the world and attract buyers with the deepest of pockets. What are these multimillionaires looking for? Sometimes it’s privacy; sometimes it’s show. But it’s always spectacular. Here are three incomparable properties currently on the market that prove just how high our high end can get.

Drop-dead glamour
374 S. Shore Drive

Villa Solstice, more popularly known as the Githler house, was built in 2006 and remains one of Sarasota’s legendary homes. Host to the town’s — and the country’s — power brokers, it set the standard for the opulent lifestyle Sarasota enjoyed during the boom years. But it’s more than just a big mansion. Its cleverly thought-out plan divides the 10,800 square feet of living area into both private and public spaces, with all sorts of nooks, crannies, terraces, studies and recreational areas that soothe and comfort but never overwhelm. Located in the Ringling Museum area and featuring views of the water from almost every room, it’s Sarasota’s ultimate trophy home.

Priced at $13.8 million. For more information, contact Joel Schemmel (587-4894) or Cheryl Loeffler (302-9674), both of Premier Sotheby’s.

Perfect hideaway
1160 N. Casey Key Road

If you want something more secluded, this Spanish-style estate on the exclusive north end of Casey Key offers privacy, size and every possible amenity. High ceilings and shady loggias echo the classic designs of Mizner’s Palm Beach mansions of the 1920s, but here everything is virtually brand new and up-to-date. (It was built in 2011.) The 2.5-acre lot is landscaped to provide total seclusion, with a white sand beach on one side and a yachting lagoon and bay views on the other. The spectacular outdoor living area contains a giant stone fireplace, infinity pool and spa, plus an outdoor kitchen.

Priced at $16.9 million. For more information, call Linda Dickinson (350-3304) or Kelly Quigley (356-9954), both of Michael Saunders & Co.

A world apart
Little Bokeelia Island

And, finally, the ultimate — your own private island. Discovered by Ponce de Leon and host to a long line of famous visitors — including Thomas Edison — Little Bokeelia Island is accessible by boat from Pine Island, just more than an hour from Sarasota. Once ashore, you’ll find a lavish estate inventor Charles Burgess built in 1928, plus an Old Florida village to house guests and staff. There are miles of nature trails, a tennis court and your choice of several beaches. The island receives electricity from the mainland, with multiple backup generators. Pine Island Sound, with some of the best boating and fishing in the world, surrounds you. The 100-acre island could be subdivided but, as is, it’s the perfect billionaire’s getaway.

Priced at $24.5 million. For more information, call Klaus Lang (383-7591) or Jennifer Calenda (916-0798), both of Michael Saunders & Co.