Lido Key and St. Armands

LIDO KEY AND ST. ARMANDS COMMUNITIES

LIVE ON A LUXURY ISLAND

Some of the most remarkable architecture anywhere can be found on Lido Key, one of Sarasota, Florida’s beautiful barrier islands. Lido Key real estate offers beautiful beach condos for sale with unobstructed views of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, there are many stunning luxury homes for sale on Lido Key and St. Armands Key within walking distance of world-famous St. Armand’s Circle and Lido Beach and spread across this lovely key. Lido Beach, an easy walk from St. Armand’s Circle, offers sparkling white sands, beautiful blue waters, and many amenities, including a public swimming pool beachside, playground, concessions, handicapped accessible observation deck, and more.

South Lido Beach Park is located at the southern tip of Lido Key and surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, Sarasota Bay, Big Pass, and Brushy Bayou. Highlights of South Lido Beach include a picnic area shaded by Australian Pines, a nature trail of wooden walkways, a canoe, and a kayak launch. South Lido Beach Park is a wonderful destination for picnicking, grilling, playing volleyball, fishing, boating through mangrove tunnels. North Lido Beach, northwest of St. Armands Circle, is right off of John Ringling Blvd. North Lido Beach is very private and narrow, and a perfect place for walking along the shore.

ST. ARMANDS CIRCLE

St. Armands is a charming circle of 130 boutiques, restaurants, and more, centered around St. Armands Park. With tropical landscaping, stunning architecture, antique statues, and benches throughout, this elegant marketplace has a cosmopolitan and continental feel. From high fashion to homemade fudge, St. Armands Circle delights its visitors from around the world. The Grand Prix Races, one of the most highly anticipated and popular events in Sarasota, Florida, take place right off Lido Key every 4th of July. St. Armands Circle Park hosts events year-round, including arts and crafts shows, exotic car festivals, and more.

LIDO KEY HISTORY – JOHN RINGLING

Circus mogul John Ringling purchased Lido Key in 1917, and his influence persists there today in the street design radiating from the circle and the magnificent Italian marble statuary he placed there. Today at St. Armand’s Circle, you’ll find stunning architecture and perhaps the most cosmopolitan shopping and dining experience in North America. You’ll also find the Columbia Restaurant, Sarasota’s oldest, which opened its doors in 1959.

While Ringling’s influence on Lido Key dates from the 1920s, some young architects also left their mark on Lido Key in the 1950s. The Sarasota School of Architecture, “Sarasota Modern,” is a regional style that emerged on Florida’s Central West Coast after World War Two. Some of the architects who created this style achieved fame later in their careers, and several examples of their work remain on Lido Key today.

The Sarasota School style is noted for attention to environment and topography. Huge sunshades, extra-large sliding glass doors, unusual ventilation systems, and walls of jalousie windows dominate these structures which were built mostly between 1941 and 1966.

LIDO KEY VIDEO

Beach Residences
Lido Ambassador
Lido Beach Club
Lido Presidential
Lido Regency
Lido Shores
Orchid Beach Club
St. Armand’s Towers