SUMMER has officially arrived and, with it, photos from international vacations have started to fill social media feeds.
However, with rising airfare and hotel prices, many would-be travelers were stuck at home.
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Travelers looking to experience the beautiful sights of European architecture need look no further than St. Augustine, Florida.
Located on the northeast coast of Florida, St. Augustine features an extravagant evolution of Spanish colonial architecture that can be seen throughout the city.
The city – located 200 miles from Tallahassee – is reportedly the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origins in the US.
Founded on September 8, 1565, the town predates the founding of Jamestown in 1607 and was established well before the Pilgrims managed to land at Plymouth Rock in 1620.
Historians attribute the founding of Saint Augustine to Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, who arrived in Florida at the behest of the former ruler of Spain, King Philip II.
According to city official websiteSaint Augustine was named so because Menéndez set foot on the coast of Florida on August 28, Saint Augustine’s feast day.
The website states that Spain used the city for two purposes: a military outpost to combat French invaders and a base to establish Catholic missionary settlements throughout the southeastern part of North America.
While much of the city has adapted to modern times, there are still many places where visitors can be transported back to the city’s humble beginnings.
One such place is Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest stone fort in the USA.
The structure, which sits near the west coast of Florida’s Matanzas Bay, was carved out as the focal point of a British-led siege in 1702, when a group of English colonial forces led by Governor James Moore attempted to wrest the city from Spanish control. .
Moore’s siege lasted two months and ultimately failed due to the fortress’s coquina masonry – which used rock formed from shells that absorbed the blast of cannonballs rather than shattering.
Visitors to the picturesque town are also encouraged to visit the Spanish Colonial Quarter.
According to a tourism websitethose who visit “can experience hundreds of years of Spanish and British colonial history in St. Augustine.”
The neighborhood also presents several live reenactments of several important moments in the city’s history.
Important facts about Saint Augustine
Below, find some very important facts about Saint Augustine.
- Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
- Saint Augustine predates the founding of Jamestown, Virginia, and the landing of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock
- Saint Augustine was so named because Menéndez set foot on the coast of Florida on August 28, Saint Augustine’s feast day.
- The city is reportedly the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origins in the US.
- During the Civil War, Union troops managed to hold the city throughout the conflict
- Spain used the city for two purposes: a military outpost to combat French invaders and a base to establish Catholic missionary settlements.
A third important place for travelers to visit is the Bridge of Lions, which connects St. Augustine to Anastasia Island.
The impressive drawbridge – named after the four white marble lion statues that guard the bridge on the west side – was commissioned in 1925.
In addition to all the historical significance, St. Augustine also has a tram system that allows travelers to access 21 different locations throughout the city.
The tram passes more than 100 points of interest in the city, including the Ponce de León Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, the Old Jail, the Oldest House Museum Complex and more.
The city also has several beautiful beaches not far from the historic center.
St. Augustine Beach and tranquil Crescent Beach are two of the most popular spots, with grass-covered dunes and wide expanses of sand.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
