The Breakers

No building in Newport better captures the extravagance of the Gilded Age than The Breakers. Built in 1895 for Cornelius Vanderbilt II and designed by Richard Morris Hunt, the 70-room Italian Renaissance palazzo sits on Ochre Point overlooking the Atlantic — and it remains one of the most extraordinary domestic buildings in America. A visit takes the better part of two hours done properly. The audio tour is genuinely good, covering not just the architecture but the Vanderbilt family history and the era that produced this kind of wealth. The Great Hall, the dining room set for a formal dinner, and the views from the rear loggia across the ocean are the moments most guests remember. The Preservation Society of Newport County manages eleven historic properties in total. If your group plans to visit more than one mansion, a combination ticket offers good value and makes a natural itinerary across Bellevue Avenue. Arrive early on summer mornings — the coaches from Providence arrive mid-morning and the main rooms can fill quickly. Late September and October offer the most comfortable visiting conditions, with shorter queues and light that does justice to the stone exteriors. The rear terrace overlooking the sea is worth lingering on regardless of the season.