St. George Street is the center of any St. Augustine tour and the most famous street in the city. During the city’s colonial Spanish era, St. George Street was its main thoroughfare. Today, it’s the center of St. Augustine’s Historic District and a good starting place for tourists. Here are a few of our favorite St. Augustine attractions on or near St. George Street:
St. Augustine City Gate: Built in 1808, these twin stone pillars once held the wooden doors that kept invaders out of the city. Like many of the fortifications in Spanish Florida, the walls and gates that protected St. Augustine were constructed out of coquina, a rare form of limestone made up of ancient mollusk shells glued together by calcium carbonate. While the wooden doors are gone, the gate pillars have remained strong for over 200 years.
The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse: Among the many preserved historic buildings on St. George Street is the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, built around 1800 by Greek immigrant Juan Genopoly. An indentured servant, Genepoly was granted freedom after the British took control of Florida and built his own home in St. Augustine. Recognizing the importance of learning English, he invited children from the local Greek community to study at his home, teaching them to read, write, and do arithmetic.
Restaurants: The Historic District contains some of St. Augustine’s best restaurants, so feel free to stop for a bite to eat as you stroll through the streets. St. Augustine has a wide variety of cuisines, from local seafood favorites to authentic Polish food, so there’s something for everyone on St. George Street.
To make the most of your trip, check out our St. Augustine Self-Guided Walking Tour, or you can sign up for Action+ and gain access to over 100 tours for a single yearly price.
