image, The Villa Zorayda Museum
The Villa Zorayda Museum

Historic District

St. Augustine’s Historic District is full of charm, dining, attractions, and shopping.

St. Augustine holds a special place in America’s history as the oldest continuously occupied European Settlement in the continental United States. When you travel the pedestrian-friendly historic downtown street, the past is evident everywhere you look.

Discover the best attractions and tips for visiting St. Augustine’s Historic District with this guide:

St. Augustine’s Most Historic Streets

St. George Street

St. George Street is the most popular place for visitors to experience all the sights and sounds of the Ancient City. The streets are lined with charming boutiques, restaurants, historic homes, and attractions. There’s even more to explore just off of St. George Street too!

Aviles Street

Wander off the beaten path to Aviles Street, the oldest street in the nation, which is known for its art galleries and romantic restaurants.

Treasury Street

Treasury Street is the narrowest street in America. Only six-feet wide, the brick street was designed to make it more difficult for raiders to loot and abscond with the treasure!

Avenida Menendez

Avenida Menendez is a sweeping street that passes the Castillo de San Marcos and Plaza de la Constitucion continuing parallel to Matanzas Bay. Along its path are a variety of restaurants serving Irish, Spanish, Cuban, and New Orleans-style cuisine.

Local Tip: You can snap that perfect vacation photo on Avenida Menendez with beautiful views of the Bridge of Lions and waterfront views including St. Augustine Lighthouse in the distance.

Cordova Street

You’ll find many points of interest along Cordova Street including the Tolomato Cemetery, originally a burial place for Christian Indians in the 1700s. Take a free tour of the cemetery on the third Saturday of each month.

The historic and luxurious Casa Monica Hotel and Spa is also situated on Cordova Street, along with parts of Flagler College and the Lightner Museum.

Historic Sites & Attractions

The Cathedral Basilica, an impressive architectural wonder, is the home of the oldest Catholic Parish in the United States. Step inside the doors to see the beautiful stained glass windows and alter showing Saint Augustine alongside the risen Christ.

The Plaza de la Constitucion

The Plaza de la Constitucion is bordered by Cathedral Place and King Street. Established in 1573, the Plaza square is named for its monument to the Spanish constitution of 1812, believed to be the only such monument of its kind in the world. Look for the imposing two-story Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum, where the private courtyard was the residence for the governors of both Spain and England during the colonial centuries.

Oldest Wooden School House

The cedar and cypress planks of this historical building are weathered by more than 200 years of history. Learn about how the schoolmaster and his wife lived above the classroom see some of the textbooks kids would have used centuries ago.

The Oldest House

A few blocks away from St. George Street, visit the Oldest House, the oldest surviving Spanish Colonial dwelling in St. Augustine. Evidence exists that the house site has been occupied since the 1600s, the current house has been standing since the early 1700s.

See King Street’s Impressive Architecture

You won’t find a more picturesque location in the historic district than the plaza of the Lightner Museum, which faces Flagler College. King Street separates these two historic buildings of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Both were built by Standard Oil Magnate Henry Flagler as luxury hotels in the Gilded Age.

Flagler College

Built as the Hotel Ponce de Leon in 1888, the building was considered one of the most exclusive resorts of its day. Take a tour to view 79 windows of Tiffany glass, hand-laid tiles, carved wood, gold-laced frescoes, and soaring ceilings.

The Lightner Museum

Originally built as the Alcazar Hotel by Henry Flagler, this hotel offered many recreation options for guests including a bowling alley, sauna, grand ballroom, and the largest indoor swimming pool of its time. Today The Lightner Museum is home to an extensive collection of Gilded Age artifacts including fine and decorative art, Tiffany glass, musical instruments, and rare oddities.

The Villa Zorayda Museum

Also located on King Street, this former grand Gilded Age home was built in 1883. The building is a 1/10th scale reproduction of a portion of the Alhambra Palace in Granada and today houses a collection of antiques, art, and curios.

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