Helpful Links | Belvedere means "beautiful sight" in Italian and much of this lovely town boasts panoramic views of San Francisco Bay, Angel Island, Alcatraz, Mount Tamalpais, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the world-famous San Francisco skyline. Some of the most palatial real estates in the world are found in this exclusive, engaging, and enchanting enclave.

Belvedere, like its neighboring communities Tiburon and Sausalito, was a fishing village, and today is an epicenter for the recreational sailing community. It is adjacent to two famous private yacht clubs; The San Francisco Yacht Club, located in Belvedere Cove, and the Corinthian Yacht Club, situated on Corinthian Island. The two tennis and swim clubs are The Belvedere Tennis Club and The Tiburon Peninsula Club. It has a very active and involved population of just over 2,000 people that are lucky enough to enjoy the considerable biodiversity, Mediterranean climate, unparalleled schools, and truly remarkable location.

History

The Coast Miwok Native Americans first inhabited Belvedere and remained there, undisturbed, for thousands of years. It wasn't until 1834 that Mexico granted a land grant to an Irishman by the name of John Reed. It was the first land grant in Marin County. This was the beginning of the modern development of what we know as Belvedere. The Belvedere Land Company was formed in 1888 and was said to consist of men of "wealth and enterprise." The company developed the land for profit, subdivided the property, constructed houses, and built roads. In 1896, the town of Belvedere was incorporated by a vote of 57 residents. Many of the buildings servicing Belvedere at that time still exist today. These historical structures are important cultural resources that not only increase real estate value but define the community.

Location | Climate | Weather

The location and climate are two aspects that add to Belvedere's appeal. It is located on the Tiburon Peninsula, about 4 miles north of San Francisco, and consists of two "islands" with the Belvedere Lagoon between them. Belvedere Island is the larger of the two islands and Corinthian Island is shared with Tiburon. Belvedere is comprised of 2.4 square miles, with about 20% of the land under water. The lagoon was developed in the 1950s and 1960s and offers gorgeous waterfront properties with access to swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and sailing. The lush and hilly terrain affords world-renowned views.

The weather in Belvedere is extraordinary. The moderate climate is influenced by the proximity to the bay and coast. Coastal breezes keep the air fresh and clear. It is mostly sunny 260 days a year. The average temperatures are moderate and range from a low of 43 degrees in the winter to a high of 75 degrees during the summer. Belvedere is the quintessential California destination.

Real Estate

Many of the homes in Belvedere today are architectural gems; they are well-built custom homes, from a wide range of periods, either designed by famous architects or embodying a specific architectural style popular over the past century. They possess the elegance and intricacy of the past, yet are tastefully updated to reflect today's lifestyles.

Architecture styles on the island include Queen Anne, Bay Tradition, Shingle, Greek Revival, Classical Revival, Colonial Revival, Mission Revival, Mediterranean Revival, Craftsman, and Tudor. Some of the famous architects of the past that have designed homes or other structures in Belvedere include Julia Morgan, Willis Polk, Clarence Ward, George Rockrise, Charles Callister, Joseph Eichler, the architectural firms of Campbell and Wong and Jones and Emmons, as well as numerous structures by Albert Farr. Buildable land is scarce in Belvedere, so the prices remain at the highest levels in Marin County.

Schools

Belvedere is in the Reed Union School District. The district is comprised of three schools: Reed Elementary (grades kindergarten-2); Bel Aire Elementary (grades 3 - 5); and Del Mar (grades 6 - 8). All three schools have been recognized as "California Distinguished Schools". There is also St. Hilary School, a Catholic primary school for children grades kindergarten - 8, located in the district. Reed Union School District continues to be considered one of the best school districts in the nation. Reed School District schools rate well into the 900s according to the California Department of Education Academic Performance Index (API) - a standard of excellence.

The Reed Union School District schools share the services of a psychologist, a speech and language therapist, an Information Services Coordinator and assistant, part-time aides for limited English-speaking students, a part-time school nurse, and a district health specialist. Instructional aides provide assistance in the elementary classrooms at Reed and Bel Aire Schools. Each school is assigned a special education resource specialist, art, music, and physical education teachers, as well as a technology facilitator. Bel Aire and Reed Schools have reading specialists to oversee intervention literacy programs and work collaboratively with the resource teachers in the Learning Center to provide services for all students in need. Spanish is taught in grades 3-8. Parent-paid school bus transportation is available to and from all three sites.

After-school programs are available through the recreation departments in Belvedere/Tiburon and Corte Madera and through Tiburon Peninsula's Soccer League, Softball League, and Little League. Childcare is available through the Belvedere-Tiburon Child Care Center, located on both the Reed and Bel Aire School campuses.

Parents participate in Parent Teacher Association (PTA) sponsored activities and assist in the classrooms, libraries, and other school site locations. They also serve on the School Site Councils and the Board of Trustees. Parents, community members, and local businesses support schools through a parcel tax that provides for small class sizes and two bond measures to improve facilities. The parent-led Reed Schools Foundation funds Spanish, technology, art, music, physical education, and site enhancements. Please visit the Quick Links section for more information.

The children of Belvedere homeowners attend Redwood High School, which is nationally ranked and recognized as one of the premier schools in the nation with some of the State's highest test scores, rates of graduation, and college acceptance. Click Helpful Links for more information.

Commuting

Belvedere is located just 14.5 miles from Lombard Street in San Francisco and the estimated drive time is 25 minutes without commute traffic. Alternatively, Belvedere has the Golden Gate Transit commuter buses for service to San Francisco. The Blue and Gold Fleet's ferry ride is approximately 35 minutes.

Things To Do

Belvedere is a beautiful place to live. With the San Francisco Bay at your door, one can wander the pathways of Belvedere enjoying the magnificent vistas of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, Angel Island, Sausalito, and Mount Tamalpais, viewed through ancient redwoods and Baywood canyons. You can stroll and bicycle along the sparkling Bay shoreline. Belvedere has marinas, the San Francisco Yacht Club, and many private docks for the boating enthusiast. For those of you wanting great shopping and dining, Belvedere's charming neighbor, Tiburon, is just a short jaunt away