Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Trip ideas while visiting St. Augustine in Florida

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

The Castillo de San Marcos, constructed by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695, has been a fort for over 205 years. As the oldest masonry fort in the United States, it holds a significant historical position.

St. Augustine’s downtown boasts a scenic attraction that not only captivates visitors but also served as a vital defense for Spanish Florida against the British and pirates. This remarkable fort stands out from others around the world because it was built using coquina, a unique type of limestone made up of shell fragments. In fact, it is one of just two forts worldwide constructed with this semirare material.