St Augustine Fort - Castillo De San Marcos

Castillo de San Marcos

Sitting regally just at the waters of the Matanzas Inlet is one of St Augustine's most celebrated St Augustine FL Attractions, the Castillo de San Marcos. This famous St Augustine Fort has endured throughout the Old City’s long history and protected the city of Saint Augustine from outside attacks from various European countries. Today, the site of the Castillo de San Marcos is a US National Monument and Park. Visitors can explore this St Augustine Fort, one of the best St Augustine FL Attractions and look out across the gun deck at the spectacular views of the Matanzas Inlet and downtown St Augustine FL.
Construction began on the Castillo de San Marcos, St Augustine Fort in 1672 after Queen Mariana of Spain requested a structure to be built using more indestructible materials, after a series of wooden structures were destroyed by fire. Designed using the bastion

system of fortification, the Castillo de San Marcos was constructed using coquina rock from Anastasia Island Florida and mortar hauled from the Matanzas Bay, and workers for the project were brought all the way from Cuba! Construction was completed on the fort in 1695 and protected the Spanish settlement for several decades after its completion. It was only occupied by the British during the time after the Treaty of Paris which gave Britain the rights to all of lands within the Florida colony. The occupation only lasted twenty years and the Castillo de San Marcos St Augustine Fort was returned to the Spanish at the Second Treaty of Paris. In 1900, the Castillo de San Marcos was taken off of active duty as a military facility, and in 1924 it became a national monument.

Today, the Castillo de San Marcos is a 20 acre national park monument and outdoor park that thousands of visitors tour each year. The lush landscapes that surround the ancient walls of this St Augustine Fort are always the most beautiful emerald green color, making it one of the most scenically beautiful areas in the Old City. Visit the Castillo de San Marcos and you will see examples of some of the oldest masonry left remaining from the old European settlements; it is the only remaining 17th century fort in North America.

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