Swimming in South Beach

Stretching from the South Pointe Park pier to Dade Boulevard, South Beach is a lively district that was created in 1912 by the Lummus brothers, businessmen. The plan was to link the city of Miami to South Beach via a bridge. Subsequently, SoBe exploded in growth, becoming a resort in 1920. To this day, it remains a world-renowned tourist destination. From its humble beginnings as farmland to its current phase of upmarket development, South Beach is virtually unrecognisable.

To visit South Beach is to meet its extravagant, motley crew: oiled-up bodies glistening in the sun, athletes sculpting their bodies, young people skating down the streets... Everyone feels like a fish in water.

Before the heat sets in, take a stroll along the path that runs alongside the endless beach and the tall buildings perched high above the Atlantic. In the distance on the beach, you can make out the brightly painted wooden lifeguard posts that are the symbol of Miami Beach, planted every 200 metres in the sand.

Cult of the body or cult of the spirit

Both options coexist in South Beach and it would be a shame to miss out on both worlds. If you want to see bodybuilders showing off their skills, head for the volleyball court on Ocean Drive.

In terms of culture, the city is a nugget of Art Deco architecture and is packed with small museums. Take a trip to the Miami Beach Architectural District, a tropical and colourful district with buildings from the 20s and 30s.

Head for the city, where there's no shortage of colour. South Beach stands out for its sparkling pedestrian streets. Behind the eccentric Ocean Drive, a number of colourful buildings are scattered around the neighbourhood, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Don't miss Casa Casuarina, at number 1116, the former home of designer Gianni Versace (where he was murdered in 1997). Today, Casa Casuarina is called Barton G's Villa and houses a boutique hotel and Il Sole restaurant.

Not far from Ocean Drive is Lincoln Road, a pedestrianised street known for its independent boutiques, range of restaurants and entertainment venues. Along the way, Espanola Way spices things up with its Mediterranean-style buildings, complete with arches, balconies and capitals on the pink stucco facades.

Just around the corner, Washington Avenue comes into its own, much to the delight of art and design lovers. The star attraction is the Wolfsonian-FIU museum with its world-class collection.