10 Things You Should Know Before Visiting Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine

It is the oldest structure in the nation’s oldest city. Completed in 1695, the Castillo de San Marcos was authorized by the Queen Regent of Spain a century after the founding of St.Augustine. It followed a brutal attack on the city by English pirates that left 60 people dead and the kidnapping of many more residents for ransom.

The masonry star fort overlooking the Matanzas River is made of a stone called coquina (Spanish for “small shells”). Coquina is a type of limestone native to coastal regions around the world. Quarried from nearby Anastasia Island, the stone comprises tiny seashells that have been compressed over thousands of years.

At the time of completion, the fort featured coquina walls up to 19-feet thick in places and 33 feet high, surrounded by a moat and protected by dozens of cannons mounted at the bastions.

After being decommissioned, the fort was declared a national monument.

Today, this well-preserved piece of history is one of the most popular things to do when visiting St. Augustine. On this episode, I give you some tips if it’s your first time exploring this landmark and run down what you should know before visiting the Castillo de San Marcos.