04/03/2022
St. Augustine’s Old City Gates circa 1865 compared to now, looking south down St. George Street. Step back in time and explore the ancient city with us.
Founded in 1565 by Pedro Menendez de Aviles who claimed the land for Spain, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied city in North America.
However the first Europeans here were actually the French Huguenots, who had settled just north in what is now the present day Mayport area of Jacksonville. Menendez drove them out and further south, in a bloody battle event that gave Matanzas Bay its name. (‘Matanzas’ translates to ‘massacre’ in Spanish)
Of course long before the European arrival, North Florida was inhabited by the Timucuan Native Americans who fished, hunted and cultivated the land. The village of Seloy was located in what is now the present day Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and the Mission Nombre de Dios area.
To learn more about St. Augustine’s fascinating and sometimes tumultuous past, click on the links below and come explore with us!
TourStAugustine.com
Ghost Tours of St. Augustine
St. Augustine City Walks Food & Wine Tours
