North Miami Beach

St Bernard De Clairvaux Episcopal Church is a small piece of Europe in Miami Beach. This 12th century Spanish church was originally built in Sacramenia, Spain, where it operated for seven centuries at the Monastery of St. Bernard de Clairvaux. It was eventually turned into a granary.

In the 1920s the cloisters and several other buildings belonging to the monastery, were bought by newspaper baron William Hearst. He had the building dismantled, shipped it to the U.S., and tried to have it re-assembled. Due do to a number of problems this plan never came to pass. In 1954, the pieces found a home in Miami, where the building currently operates as an Episcopalian church.

Visitors can tour the church and the grounds for a fee.

The Museum of Contemporary Art opened in 1996 and has seen much success since that time. It has gained international attention while still managing to focus largely on emerging talent. The museum has grown its collection through ongoing acquisitions, made either through purchases or donations and is in the process of expanding its facility.

The new building will be an eye catching LEED Certified structure which will be more than twice the size of the current facility. Completion is planned for 2014.

The museum offers a strong permanent collection and features exhibits showcasing the latest trends and talents in contemporary art. A wide range of media are presented.