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The mansion already had other tragic incidents much before the death of Versace, which contributed to be the most haunted mansion in all of South Beach, Miami. Originally built in 1930 by architect, author and philanthropist Alden Freeman based on the oldest House in the Western Hemisphere, the "Alcazar de Colon", in Santo Domingo, built in 1510 by Diego Colon, the son of the discoverer Cristobal Colon. Freeman used this old house bricks for the construction of the Casa Casuarina. When Freeman died in 1937, the property was acquired by Jacques Amsterdam and renamed "The Palace of Amsterdam"which was used as an apartment complex. Great artists resided there, attracted by the architecture and the beauty of the mansion, but in that moment many tenants claimed witnessing phenomena that challenged any logical explanation.

Records speak of the terrifying apparition of a man with white hair wearing a black suit and top hat. Paranormal phenomena forced the owner to hire the services of a medium, which said that it was the spirit of a former soldier. And in 1969, various skeptical journalists volunteered a night at the complex to write an article above the supernatural phenomena. After a whole night, present witnesses claimed that journalists fled in the middle of the night terrified by everything they saw.

But it was not until the death of Versace mansion received the nickname of "the cursed mansion". On July 16, 1997, at the age of 50, Versace was murdered on the steps of the mansion by the serial murderer Andrew Cunanan, after returning home from a walk along Ocean Drive. Cunanan had already killed 4 others during the last 3 months, and then committed suicide just a week after murder of Versace. The reason why Cunanan killed Versace remains a mystery.

After the death of Versace, the mansion was auctioned and bought in 2000 by telecommunications mogul Peter Loftin. The mansion became a club private in September 2000. But in December 2009, the restaurateur Barton G. Weiss reopened it as a luxury hotel. It seems that the mansion is doomed to forever change owners.

"The ghost of Gianni is still round the halls of Casa Casuarina, which is really one of the most beautiful homes in the world", said several experts in old House. "Gianni has invested $30 million in the renovation of the estate to bring back the original glory of architect Alden Freeman, who also believed that his spirit frequents the House.

Added by: sdonley on 03/18/2018 DB#: 1388
Source(s): https://www.facebook.com/historyhaunted/photos/a.5...

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