St Augustine, Florida

St Augustine is the oldest town in the US and the Floridians are very proud of this.  The Spanish landed here in 1595 and established a settlement.  The buildings are lovely and the town is considered the jewel in the crown of Florida.  Below is a lovely little arcade of cafes and shops.

Aviles Street, the oldest street in the town.

The oldest wood school in the US.

The Lightner Museum which used to be a grand hotel - one of the lovely old buildings in the town.

Inside the Castillo de San Marco - the country's oldest masonry fort.  St Augustine was the keystone in the defense of the Florida coast and so Spain ordered the building of a fort made of stone.  In 1672 the fort was begun and took 23 years to build.  It is made of coquina, a locally quarried shellrock.  Many of the homes in the town were also made of this stone and it is still evident today.  Below is a close-up of the rock.

St Augustine was the keystone in the defense of the Florida coast