St. Augustine

St. Augustine, Florida

The mainland of North America was first sighted by Spanish explorer Don Juan Ponce de Leon on Easter, March 27, 1513. He claimed the land for Spain, naming it La Florida, or "Land of Flowers".

Between 1513 and 1563, Spain launched six expeditions to settle Florida, but failed. France succeeded in establishing a fort and colony on the St. Johns River in 1564 and threatened Spain's treasure fleets which sailed along Florida's shoreline returning to Spain. King Phillip II sent Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Spain's most experienced admiral, to govern Florida, instructing him to explore and colonize the territory and to drive out any pirates or settlers from other nations, should they be found there.

Menendez arrived off the coast of Florida, on August 28, 1565, the Feast Day of St. Augustine. Eleven days later, he and his 600 soldiers and settlers came ashore with banners flying and trumpets sounding. He hastily fortified the fledgling village and named it St. Augustine. Utilizing brilliant military maneuvers, Menendez destroyed the French garrison on the St. Johns River and, with the help of a hurricane, also defeated the French fleet. With the coast of Florida firmly in Spanish hands, he then set to work building the town, establishing missions to the Indians for the Church, and exploring the land.

Thus, St. Augustine was founded forty-two years before the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts - making it the oldest permanent European settlement on the North American continent, and America’s first city.

Beginning in 1959, and continuing today, the State of Florida has an ongoing preservation effort, meticulously restoring many colonial structures to their original appearance, and historic St. Augustine has become a center of colonial Spanish culture and an important destination for travelers from all parts of the world.

St. Augustine today is a combination of old world charm, national monuments, and more than 20 unique attractions which make a visit to St. Augustine the ideal family vacation. Architectural masterpieces of Spanish Renaissance and Colonial Revival frame lanes of art galleries, antique shops and collectibles; the perfect setting for a romantic evening of dinner and live entertainment in one of our more than 150 fine restaurants, bistros and nightclubs. The nations oldest street, Saint George’s Street, offers a wonderful mix of old-world architecture and world-class shopping.

The beaches of Anastasia Island, Vilano, and North Beach, are all just moments from the historic city. St. Augustine boasts 42 miles of unspoiled, non-commercial beaches, so pick a quiet stretch for relaxation, or join in the excitement of more active areas.