Lure of the Venetian Pool

Jonathan Vigliotti

So, how do you get rid of a rock quarry pit in the middle of your newly designed city? Do what Coral Gables founder George Merrick and architect Phineas Paist did: make it a pool. This week, ON Assignment takes us to the famed Venetian Pool, diving into its history and preservation efforts through the years. Before you jump into our video, here are some quick facts:

• The pool holds 820,000 gallons of water.
• During the summer months, the water is replenished with water from the aquifer below the pool.
• The water is then recycled back into the aquifer, where it is naturally filtered.
• The pool is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
• Water depths range from two feet (wading pool) to over eight feet by the large waterfall.