Venice has canals. Sarasota has the Gulf. But both, apparently, now share a flair for high-priced grandeur. Serenissima, a 19,300-square-foot homage to old-world Italy perched on 145 feet of Longboat Key beachfront, has just sold for $30.3 million in cash—a new residential record for the region and a reminder that, in real estate, as in romance and pasta dishes, Italians do it bigger.

So arrivederci, St. Regis Residences, which until now held the record for the most expensive residential sale in Sarasota County when it fetched $21,244,000 last year. The sale of Serenissima, at 845 Longboat Club Road, is now the most expensive residential transaction ever recorded on Florida’s west coast, excluding the Naples market further south. The 1.18-acre estate, tucked within the gates of the Longboat Key Club, boasts 145 feet of Gulf frontage and nearly 20,000 square feet of living space—a scale that might seem outsized to most, but, as listing agent Rich Polese of Compass Real Estate notes, is "a perfect size for a family vacation retreat for them.”

"Them," in this case, refers to the still-anonymous buyers, represented by Judy Kepecz-Hays of Coldwell-Banker Realty. Originally from Indiana, they already owned property in Sarasota and had been eyeing Longboat Key for some time. “They fell in love with the home within an hour,” Kepecz-Hays says. “They loved all of it. Everything.” She added that the couple plans to keep the home as is—which is perhaps wise, considering the finishes include hand-painted murals, soaring marble hallways, and a chef’s kitchen that would make a restaurateur blush.

Built in 2005, Serenissima had last sold in 2020 for $16.5 million—then a record-tying price for Sarasota. At that time, Polese handled the transaction, as well. This time, he says, “I stood behind the price from day one,” despite early doubt. “People told me, 'You’ll never sell it at that price point.' It proved everyone wrong.”

Stepping into it is less like walking into a beach house and more like entering a Renaissance daydream with central air conditioning. The estate is layered in architectural flourishes: arched colonnades, a two-story grand salon has frescoed ceilings, gilded fixtures, and limestone walls. There’s a library wrapped in mahogany, a formal dining room fit for a minor diplomatic summit, and a gold-caged elevator that glides between floors like a jewel box on rails. The primary suite rivals the square footage of most condos, and the marble bath wouldn’t be out of place in a Roman spa. Outside, terraces spill down toward an infinity-edge pool and 145 feet of private beach, where the Gulf of Mexico stands in as both backdrop and bragging right. It’s not subtle, but subtlety was never on the blueprint.

The listing drew attention quickly. “We had six showings, which was remarkable given the price,” Polese says. “We had ultra-wealthy prospects, including two famous people—I can’t say their names. A billionaire socialite from New York City. One from the Palm Beach market.” The buzz, he believes, helped validate the price. “With good exposure, you can prove value with data. The price it closed at aligns with the appreciation we’re seeing in that $8 million-plus market.”

Still, $30.3 million is a psychological leap for the region—especially since the price tag doesn’t include the costly furnishings the buyers also purchased separately. “Just staring at the Gulf and 145 feet of beach frontage—it takes a specific buyer,” says Polese. “But it only takes one.”

While Naples has long been the flashier name in Florida’s luxury real estate circles, Sarasota is climbing the ranks. “We’re still a value point,” Polese says, referencing the area's relatively low pricing compared to Miami and Naples. “Interest rates and insurance don’t affect buyers at this price point. I think this sale signals that there are buyers out there for these listings, even at $30 million.”

James and Laura Rogers acquired Serenissima in 2020 for $16.5 million, which at the time tied the county’s record for a residential sale. James, a retired CEO, and Laura, a CPA who previously worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers and United Technologies and once held roles on Wall Street, used the estate as a seasonal retreat. Over their five-year tenure there, they preserved the home’s lavish Venetian-inspired craftsmanship, eschewing major alterations. “It blew us away … When we saw it, we knew. You don’t find this just anywhere,” James told us in a previous interview. Though relatively brief, the Rogers’ stewardship shaped Sarasota’s luxury market trajectory.

The new buyer, according to Polese, considers the home not just a dream retreat, but “a great investment.” That it sold in just 25 days—and in cash—suggests others may soon recalibrate their pricing expectations. Or at least reconsider their doubts.

“There was a lot of pleasure in the amount of feedback I got from agents," Polese says. "[The price] shocked everyone.” And whether you call it fate, market timing, or just Sarasota having a moment, Serenissima has certainly lived up to its name — "the serene one"—for everyone involved, especially the seller. Says Polese: “They’re ecstatic they got that price point.”

Check out the most expensive residential Sarasota and Manatee county sales of 2024 here.