Mediterranean and Spanish Revival Homes in Boca Raton, Palm Beach and Delray Beach
October 1, 2026 · 8 min read · By Onias Derilus, Broker
How Addison Mizner and the 1920s boom gave Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Delray Beach their Spanish-style look, how to spot a true period home, and what owners should know about historic rules, roofs, insurance and resale.
Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes give Boca Raton, Palm Beach and Delray Beach much of their look. Think stucco walls, red barrel tile roofs, arched windows and iron balconies. Some are true 1920s originals. Many more are newer homes built in the same spirit. For buyers and sellers, knowing which is which matters, because age, historic status and roof type all affect price, insurance and what you can change. This guide covers the history, how to spot the style, and what owners should check.
Key takeaways
- Architect Addison Mizner brought the style to Palm Beach. His Everglades Club opened in January 1919, and he designed dozens of island buildings over the next few years.
- In 1925 his Mizner Development Corporation launched Boca Raton, but it went bankrupt in September 1926 when the land boom collapsed.
- Old Floresta is Boca Raton's first historic district. The Fred C. Aiken House there, built in 1926, joined the National Register in 1992.
- Delray Beach's Del-Ida Park was platted in 1923 and mixes Mediterranean Revival homes with Craftsman bungalows.
- Tile roofs and older systems matter for insurance. Florida insurers cannot refuse a policy solely because of roof age if the roof is under 15 years old.
Where Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes came from in South Florida
The style arrived with the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Addison Mizner came to Palm Beach in January 1918 for his health. His first major project was the Everglades Club, which opened in January 1919 and quickly became the talk of the island.
Mizner did not copy one country. Instead, he mixed Spanish, Italian and Moorish details. He wanted his buildings to look as if they had grown over centuries. Over the next several years he designed a long list of Palm Beach houses, including El Mirasol and La Querida.
In 1925 he turned to Boca Raton. His Mizner Development Corporation planned a resort city with Spanish street names and the Cloister Inn. The boom ended in 1926, and the company went bankrupt that September. Even so, the look he started spread across South Florida and never really left.
How to spot Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes
Agents and appraisers use the two names loosely, and many homes blend both. Still, a few features show up again and again.
- Roof: Low-pitched roofs covered in red or terracotta barrel tile.
- Walls: Stucco, often rough-finished and painted in light or warm colors.
- Openings: Arched doors, windows and loggias.
- Ironwork: Wrought iron balconies, grilles, gates and light fixtures.
- Outdoor rooms: Courtyards, fountains and covered patios.
- Inside: Decorative tile, wood beams, and heavy wood doors.
In short, Spanish Revival leans simpler, with plain walls and fewer decorative details. Mediterranean Revival tends to borrow more from Italy, with grander entries, columns and balustrades. Most buyers will not need to sort out the difference. What matters more is whether the home is an original or a newer take on the style.
Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes in Boca Raton
Old Floresta is the best-known example. The Mizner Development Corporation built homes there in the mid-1920s. Today the neighborhood is known for stucco walls, iron balconies, tile roofs and quiet, tree-lined streets. It became Boca Raton's first historic district.
One standout is the Fred C. Aiken House at 801 Hibiscus Street. Mizner designed it in 1925, and it was built in 1926 with a clay tile roof, stucco walls, pine floors and cypress doors. Aiken later became the city's third mayor. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Sept. 24, 1992.
Elsewhere in Boca Raton, many newer homes and communities use the same style. Our Boca Raton page covers neighborhoods across the city.
Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes in Palm Beach
The Town of Palm Beach has the largest group of Mizner-era buildings. The Everglades Club and Worth Avenue's courtyards show the style at its most formal. Many estates on the island are Mediterranean Revival, sometimes next to British Colonial or Georgian homes.
On the island, design review is part of owning one of these homes. The Architectural Commission, known as ARCOM, reviews new homes and most exterior changes visible from the street. Designated landmarks go to the Landmarks Preservation Commission instead. Our guide to the Town of Palm Beach for buyers covers the island's rules in more detail.
Delray Beach and the style in older neighborhoods
Delray Beach set up its first local historic districts in 1987, working with the Delray Beach Historical Society. Del-Ida Park, platted in 1923 as one of the city's first planned developments, mixes Mediterranean Revival homes with Craftsman bungalows. It also has an unusual diagonal street plan with small triangle parks.
The Marina Historic District, along the Intracoastal Waterway, includes Mediterranean and Mission Revival homes alongside Monterey, Florida cottage and Art Moderne styles. Most were built between 1922 and 1943. Visit our Delray Beach page for more on the city's neighborhoods.
Renovating Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes
Older homes in this style need care. Before you plan a remodel, check three things.
Historic status
First, find out whether the home is a designated landmark or sits in a local historic district. If it does, exterior changes such as windows, roofs, additions and demolition will likely need a separate review. Each city runs its own process. In Palm Beach, that means ARCOM or the Landmarks Preservation Commission. In Boca Raton and Delray Beach, ask the city's historic preservation staff before you hire an architect.
Roofs and structure
Second, look hard at the roof. Barrel tile can last a long time, but the underlayment beneath it wears out sooner. Hire a roofer who works with tile to check both layers. Then ask about past permits, since an older roof without records can be hard to insure.
Windows, wiring and plumbing
Third, original windows, wiring and plumbing may not meet today's codes or hurricane rules. Replacing windows on a historic home can require matching the original look. So get bids early, because these items can add a lot to your budget.
Insurance on Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes
Insurance is often the biggest surprise for buyers of older homes. Florida law gives owners some protection on roof age. Under section 627.7011, an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a homeowner's policy solely because of the age of a roof that is under 15 years old.
For roofs 15 years or older, the insurer must let you get an inspection before requiring a new roof. If the inspection shows at least 5 more years of useful life, the insurer cannot refuse the policy based on roof age alone. Our post on insuring older homes in Florida covers wind mitigation, four-point inspections and other steps.
Get insurance quotes during your inspection period, not after. That way, if the cost is too high, you still have time to negotiate or walk away.
Do Spanish-style homes sell for more?
A true Mizner-era home in a historic district is rare, and rare homes can draw strong interest. However, we have not seen a reliable public study that puts a number on a style premium in Palm Beach County. Price depends far more on location, lot, condition and updates.
For context, Palm Beach County single-family homes had a $650,000 median price in August 2026, with a median of 40 days to contract and 3.5 months of supply, according to Miami Realtors. The best guide to a specific home's value is recent sales of similar homes on nearby streets.
If you are selling, lead with the history. A short write-up on the architect, the year built and any historic listing helps buyers see what makes the home different. Good photos of tile, ironwork and courtyards help too.
A buyer checklist for Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes
These homes reward careful buyers. Use this list during your inspection period.
- Ask the seller for the year built and any permit history.
- Check whether the home is a landmark or sits in a historic district.
- Have a tile roofer look at the tiles and the layer under them.
- Get a four-point and wind mitigation inspection.
- Price insurance before your inspection period ends.
- Look for cracks in stucco, rust in iron, and water stains near windows.
- Test old windows and doors. Note which ones stick or leak.
- Ask what updates were done, and when.
Sellers can use the same list. Fix small items first. Then gather permits, roof records and any historic papers. Buyers feel safer when the facts are on the table. That can mean fewer repair requests and a smoother path to closing.
Finally, keep the style in mind when you plan updates. Bright modern finishes can clash with old tile and beams. Many buyers want the charm kept and the systems made new. A kitchen and bath that respect the style often appeal to more of them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Mediterranean and Spanish Revival homes?
They overlap a lot. Spanish Revival tends to be simpler, with plain stucco walls and fewer details. Mediterranean Revival often borrows from Italy, with grander entries, columns and balustrades. Many South Florida homes mix both.
Who was Addison Mizner?
He was an architect who arrived in Palm Beach in 1918. He designed the Everglades Club and many island homes, then launched Boca Raton in 1925 before his company went bankrupt in 1926.
Can I change the outside of a historic home?
Often, but not freely. Homes that are designated landmarks or sit in historic districts usually need review before exterior changes. Ask the city before you plan any work.
Is it harder to insure a home with an old tile roof?
It can be. For roofs 15 years or older, insurers can ask for an inspection. If it shows at least 5 years of useful life left, they cannot refuse the policy on roof age alone.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Addison Mizner
- Wikipedia, Fred C. Aiken House
- Delray Beach Historical Society, historic districts
- Sabal Luxury Builder, ARCOM review overview
- Florida Statutes, s. 627.7011
- Miami Realtors, Palm Beach County August 2026 market report
Own a Mizner-era or Spanish-style home? We will build a listing plan that tells its story and prices it against the right sales. Start with a free home valuation. Buyers can set up new-listing alerts for Boca Raton and hear about these homes first. Talk with our team.
