By Coral Gables Gazette staff
When Penelope La Rossa walked through the coral columns at the entrance of the Venetian Pool on Sunday for the Coral Gables Centennial Grand Finale Concert, it was the first time she had set foot inside the historic landmark in nearly 31 years. The last time she stood here was December 3, 1994, the day she married her husband, Julio, on the little island at the world-famous spring-fed pool.
La Rossa, who lived in Broward at the time, had never imagined exchanging vows in Coral Gables. It was Julio, a Miami-Dade native, who suggested the venue. She still remembers crossing the narrow bridge over crystalline water as guests watched from beneath the terrace.
Walking in again on December 7 after more than three decades now as a widow, she paused as emotion overtook her. “It almost felt like stepping back into the most beautiful moment of my life,” she said, taking in the picturesque landmark that was emptied to make room for a symphony concert and attendees.
She wasn’t the only one reliving memories. Michael Anthony Abbott, a recent mayoral candidate, attended the concert with his wife – the two were also married at the pool nearly 21 years ago. Among the nearly 300 people who came for the Centennial concert, many arrived with their own deep personal ties to the city’s postcard-perfect pool.
Many attendees embraced the event’s 1920s theme, arriving in period-inspired attire that echoed the pool’s original era.
Those memories stretch across generations. From the sandy sun-bathing area to the kid-friendly shallow zone, from hidden caves to cascading waterfalls, Venetian Pool has long earned its place as one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. Designed by Phineas Paist with artist Denman Fink, the pool opened in 1923, carved out of a former coral rock quarry and transformed into a tropical fantasy.
City leaders mark a milestone
As expected for a centennial celebration, Coral Gables luminaries turned out in force. Former Mayor Dorothy Thomson, along with a roster of current city and county officials, joined residents for the evening concert. City Manager Peter Iglesias, City Attorney Cristina Suarez, City Clerk Billy Urquia, and District 6 County Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis, whose district includes the Venetian Pool, all attended. Commissioner Orbis addressed the crowd, reflecting on the pool’s importance to the community.
Mayor Vince Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson, and Commissioner Richard Lara were also present. The city presented ceremonial keys to Oscar Morejon, president and founder of John Bell Construction, the firm that recently completed a more than yearlong renovation of the pool. Although the Venetian Pool typically closes at the end of the year, city officials announced it would reopen Monday in celebration of the restoration’s completion.
A night of music beneath the Gables moon
The evening’s centerpiece was a performance by the Miami Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Eduardo Marturet, who was awarded a proclamation by the city. The orchestra filled the historic poolside setting with a sweeping mix of classical and contemporary selections: Brahms and Strauss, a playful nod to “Roll Over Beethoven,” touches of salsa, and beloved film themes including Cinema Paradiso. The orchestra performed inside the drained basin of the historic pool, a rare tradition last seen at major anniversaries — the city’s 75th in 2001 and its 90th a decade later.
The night concluded with a fitting finale: “When the Moon Shines in Coral Gables,” the city’s signature song with singer Zesi. The song, written in the mid-1920s by composer Charles Anthony Bayha, was one of Coral Gables’ original promotional themes during its early development boom.
A living piece of City Beautiful history
For more than a century, the Venetian Pool has drawn visitors from near and far. Fed by a natural underground spring, the pool holds more than 820,000 gallons of freshwater that is replenished daily. Its waterfalls, bridges, island and cavern-like grottos create a one-of-a-kind oasis that has welcomed hundreds of thousands of swimmers since the 1920s.
On Sunday, it also welcomed generations of memories, and made new ones as Coral Gables marked a hundred years of history under the moonlight of one of its most iconic landmarks.
