83 King St. St. Augustine, Florida 32084

(904) 829-9887

Hours

Monday - Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm (last admission 4:30pm) Sunday: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Website

Overview

The Villa Zorayda Museum is one of St. Augustine’s most distinctive historic landmarks. Built in 1883 as the winter residence of Boston businessman, architect, and reformer Franklin W. Smith, this 19th-century architectural masterpiece was constructed using Smith’s innovative poured-concrete construction method, combining Portland cement, crushed coquina shell, and sand. Inspired by the world-renowned Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, Smith incorporated Moorish architectural details that brought a distinctive Spanish influence to St. Augustine and helped inspire the Spanish and Moorish Revival movement that continues to define the city’s character today.

In 1904, the Villa became the Zorayda Club, a fashionable social venue for elegant dining, dancing, and entertainment. In 1913, it was purchased by Abraham S. Mussallem, a noted collector and authority on Oriental rugs, fine art, and Egyptian antiquities. The Villa Zorayda Museum opened to the public in 1933 and continues to showcase the remarkable collections of both Franklin W. Smith and the Mussallem family.

Visitors can admire exquisite hand-carved and inlaid furniture, hand-pierced brass lamps, beautiful Oriental rugs, and magnificent Arabesque tracery crafted from crushed alabaster and plaster as exact replicas of details from the Alhambra. Admission includes a 45–60 minute self-guided audio tour available in English, Spanish, and French, bringing the Villa’s fascinating history, architectural innovations, and extraordinary collection of art, antiques, and treasures from around the world to life.

A visit to the Villa Zorayda Museum offers an unforgettable journey through history, architecture, and culture in the Nation’s Oldest City.