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Where it's at
St Augustine is a thriving multicultural city with
a wealth of history that encompasses Spanish, English, Greek,
Minorcan (Mediterranean settlers), Native American, and African
American influences. Four centuries of history give the city
a sense of romance that is embraced in its main attractions:
the colonial Spanish quarter where history is re-enacted as
a living museum, the marina with its views out to sea, and
the Spanish Military Hospital where you may find yourself
coming face-to-face with one of its ghostly former residents.
History of St. Augustine
St Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement
in the United States. Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles
first sighted the coast of Florida on August 28th, the Feast
Day of Saint Augustine, 1565. It was here that the Spanish
conquistadors built their settlement and continued to rage
wars with the French and British including Sir Francis Drake.
In 1866, Lincolnville in St. Augustine became home
to the first freed community of black slaves, and it historically
remained a center for the eradication of racial segregation
between white and black communities. The African American
tradition is still alive and kicking in St. Augustine and
if you are able to witness a traditional baptism it's definitely
worth it.
Visiting St. Augustine Today
Spanish colonial history
The era of 1740 in St Augustine is recreated in the Spanish
Colonial Quarter where you can experience how the soldiers,
their families, and the tradesmen who serviced them lived.
A perfect example of the Spanish colonial architecture is
typified in the Castillo de San Marcos. This stone
fortress was built in 1672 and its defences are superb. The
walls, twelve feet thick in places, protected the town's people
against the attack of the British. The walls were so strong
that the British canon balls bounced off the walls.
Ghostly encounters
The town is believed to be home to a sizeable community of
ghosts. The Spanish Military Hospital is one of the
sites thought to be most haunted. Tales are told of soldiers
treated in the hospital who had their legs amputated with
crude saws (now on display) without anaesthetic, who died
howling in the night from raging infections. Their ghosts
now roam the hospital. It's worth a visit, if you dare…
Hit the beach
After a long day's sightseeing, you'll probably want to head
to one of the many beaches on offer around the city; there
are 43-miles of pristine beach to choose from. It's easy to
see why this spot was favoured by the Spanish for settlement.
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