The UTampa Minarets: A Tampa Photo Guide
The silver minarets of Plant Hall — the 1891 former Tampa Bay Hotel — are the single most recognizable image in Tampa. Here’s how to shoot them.
The essentials
| Where | University of Tampa, on the Hillsborough River |
| Cost | Free (exterior + Riverwalk) |
| Best light | Last half-hour before sunset |
| Two angles | Across the river (Riverwalk) or on campus |
| Bonus | Henry B. Plant Museum inside Plant Hall |
Where to stand
Two very different frames: from the Riverwalk across the water, you get the full row of minarets reflected in the Hillsborough River with the sky behind; on the campus grounds, you get up close under the domes and Moorish Revival detail. Do both — river for the skyline shot, campus for the architecture.
Time it for sunset
The minarets are positioned to catch the Florida sunset, so the last half-hour of light sets the silver domes glowing against a warm sky. Blue hour, when the building is lit, is a strong second frame.
💡 Local tip: Shooting on campus? It’s a working university — be mindful of classes and students, keep to public exterior areas, and save the interior for the Plant Museum.
Make it a story
The fairy-tale skyline makes an unmistakable Tampa backdrop — a local proposal favourite. See our proposal photography page.
Plan your shoot
👉 See Tampa Photography Packages →
👉 See the Best Time for a Tampa Photoshoot→
FAQ
Where’s the best place to photograph the University of Tampa minarets? Across the Hillsborough River from the Riverwalk for the reflected skyline shot, or on the campus grounds for close-up architecture. Sunset is best.
Can you go onto the University of Tampa campus for photos? The exterior grounds are generally accessible — be respectful of a working campus, keep to public areas, and visit the Plant Museum for interiors.
