St. Augustine - Florida's Romantic Spanish City

Continuing with looks at some of the most romantic historic places in the South, the Florida city of St. Augustine is absolutely exquisite.

This old Spanish city predates Jamestown, Virginia, and was more han 50 years old when the Pilgrims finally set foot on Plymouth Rock. It is the oldest continually occupied city in the continental United States and is rich not only in history, but in Old World and Southern charm that makes any visit an unforgettable experience.

In the restored historic district, St. George Street and the adjacent alleys and streets create a feel more like that of a European city than a coastal community in Florida. The walls, shops and cafes are centuries removed from Daytona, Miami and the amusement parks of Orlando. This is the old, real Florida.

For those seeking a romantic escape, in addition to strolling through the ancient streets or along the waterfront, there are carriages, charming bed and breakfast inns, unique hotels, tours of the harbor aboard a historic sailing vessel and unique cafes and restaurants, some of which rank among the finest in the South.

St. Augustine was founded by Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565 during his campaign to drive the French from their settlement at nearby Fort Caroline, a fortress that the Spanish considered an intrusion on their lands. The city weathered storms, battles and pirate attacks over the years, but survived. By the time of the American Revolution, it was already more than 200 years old. The Plaza de la Constitucion in the center of town is the oldest public park in North America and the magnificent old Castillo de San Marcos is the nation's oldest masonry fort.

To learn more about St. Augustine, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/staugustine1. Be sure to follow the links on the page to learn more about the various sites and points of interest that we have visited and photographed in the historic old city.