Can anywhere in the world have it all? Can any city have miles of ravishing beaches flanked by turquoise waters, non-stop nightlife, an established arts and culture scene, unique architecture, mouthwatering cuisine from every corner of the globe, PGA golf courses, over 250 tennis courts, shopping ‘til you drop and temperatures that rarely drop below 80ºF? Miami has it all, and more.

Miami is tied to and enhanced by bodies of water. Apart from the obvious Atlantic Ocean, Mother Nature has also blessed the area with canals, rivers and Biscayne Bay, a vast 220 square mile inlet that provides both views and privacy to the 17 exclusive islands that form a key part of the property market offering.

The Tequesta Indians were the first to live in Miami, but by as early as the end of World War One, Coconut Grove became home to a concentrated array of the Who’s Who. Art Deco style came along in the 1920s and 1930s bringing colour and natural architectural forms to the blocks around Ocean Drive. Porthole windows, friezes, stucco and ‘go-faster’ stripes in hues of flamingo pink, sunny yellow and sea foam green, a perfect partnership to the abundant sunshine and lush palms.

In its time Miami has been called ‘America’s Riviera’, ‘America’s Casablanca’, ‘The Cruise Capital of the World’ and even ‘The Capital of Latin America’, understandable for a City with almost 65% of its 2.2million inhabitants being of Hispanic descent. Whatever moniker you wish to give it, Miami is a vibrant playground for frolicking in year round sunshine, and one that is unlike any other.

Districts of Miami

Miami can not be defined on its own, but rather as a group of different neighbourhoods with their own identity that combine to make the whole.

A drive from north to south would take you through:

Aventura - a new, young, vibrant residential community most known for the spectacular Aventura Mall with its cinema complex and of course the Turnberry Isle Resort and Club with its two 18 hole Robert Trent Jones Snr designed championship golf courses

Sunny Isles – a hip up and coming area home to a lot of new construction including the Trump Towers and Acqualina

Bal Harbour – accented by some nice hotels and famous for the Mall with designer stores such as Chanel, Tiffanys and Ralph Lauren. Conveniently equidistant between Miami International and Fort Lauderdale Airports

Bay Harbour Islands One and Two – One is home to condos and Two consists of single homes, mostly of one storey and available for 695.000 dollars upwards

Indian Creek - an obscenely private 300 acre island with a private country club and golf course and even its own police force. Four out of the 32 properties on the Island are occupied by billionaires and one is occupied by none other than Julio Iglesias

Surfside – a more affordable beach front residential area with prices from 350.000 dollars upwards

North Bay Road – a prestigious address with wide tree lined verges, open Bay views and home to the likes of Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, J Lo and Ricky Martin

Palm Island, Star Island, Hibiscus Island – private, gated communities populated by waterfront villas. Home to the rich and famous such as P Diddy, Rosie O’Donnell, Gloria Estefan and the 7ft 1in basketball player, Shaquille O’Neal

La Gorce - a private gated island with a mix of interior and waterfront plots, has been home to both Jimmy Page and Cher in previous years

Miami Beach – home to some architecturally stunning buildings such as The Roney, The Setai Residences, Blue & Green Diamonds and Fontainebleau

South Beach - South of Fifth (the trendy call it ‘SOFI’) – an area of high end, high rise condos such as the Murano Grande and the Philippe Starck designed Icon building

Ocean Drive and the Art Deco District – a high energy area with the largest concentration of chic, pastel coloured Art Deco buildings in the world. Dominated by boutique hotels and the setting of many a movie, Ocean Drive was also home to the late Gianni Versace and his Mediterranean style villa is somewhat of a landmark

South Pointe – a more affordable alternative to SOFI with shops, boutiques, delicatessens and the famous Nikki Beach up the road

Fisher Island – another exclusive island with no road access, only reached by ferry, comprising mansions, condos and a hotel with 9 hole course. Oprah Winfrey and Boris Becker have their homes here

Brickell - the international banking and business centre of Greater Miami dominated by high rises but also up and coming as a vibrant place to stay, dine and live.

Northern Downtown Miami – now known as the ‘culture district’ and soon to be home to a 255$ million Performing Arts Centre for ballet, opera and theatre

Coral Gables – an architecturally grand area also known as ‘the City Beautiful’ that has a distinctively Mediterranean character

Coconut Grove – this area started off as a bohemian, arty, village and retains a certain charm and energy that sets it apart from all other areas of Miami The grandest home of all is Vizcaya, an Italian Renaissance-style villa built by millionaire James Deering in 1916 and set on 10 acres of formal gardens and fountains.