When I told an American friend of mine that there are only modern cities in Florida, she replied: Have you ever been in St. Augustine, the oldest city in Florida?!?!?
So, here we are…I went to St. Augustine, the oldest city in Florida. It is located on the east coast, between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach. It is not only the oldest city in Florida, but it is also the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European origin in the United States. The city was originally founded as a Spanish colony in 1565. When Spain turned the territory over to the U.S. in 1819, St. Augustine remained the capital city until 1824, when the government moved the capital to Tallahassee.
You can see the 500 years of history just walking around the city: the Spanish Quarter, the historic St. George Street, the Castillo de San Marcos, the Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church, as well as the Grace United Methodist Church are all evidence of the fascinating city’s historical heritage.
If you have the chance to spend more than one day in St. Augustine as I did, you should explore one (at least) of the beautiful beaches. I went to Crescent Beach…only one word: terrific!
Chiara
