Plaza de la Constituci贸n (Constitution Square), St. Augustine
Constitution Square in St. Augustine is no ordinary patch of grass鈥攊t鈥檚 the oldest public space in the United States, first laid out in 1573 by Spanish colonists who followed their familiar town-planning playbook: a plaza at the center for worship, politics, and daily life. For nearly 450 years, this rectangle of land has absorbed the city鈥檚 routine chatter and its most dramatic turning points, making it the stage where St. Augustine鈥檚 story has unfolded.
At its center rises the Constitution Monument, placed here in 1813 to honor Spain鈥檚 short-lived liberal charter of 1812. Remarkably, it still stands, making it the oldest surviving U.S. monument tied to constitutional government. That鈥檚 not the only marker of civic memory鈥攁nother addition, the Foot Soldiers Monument from 2011, honors the civil rights activists of the 1960s who changed the course of the city鈥檚 modern identity. Walk a little farther east, and you鈥檒l reach the Public Market Place, first established in 1598. It bustled with food and goods by the 19th century but also carries the darker memory of having served as a slave market. Its pavilion still operates as a market today, a quiet link between past commerce and present life.
The square is ringed by some of St. Augustine鈥檚 heaviest hitters: the Cathedral Basilica, the nation鈥檚 oldest Catholic parish, still standing as a spiritual anchor, and within sight, the Saint Mark's Castle, the Spanish fort that once protected the city from invaders. Cannons dot the plaza, a public well recalls earlier days, and paths shaded by palms invite pause.
Constitution Square remains both a crossroads and a reminder: a park where families gather, concerts play, and festivals spill into the night, all on the same ground where centuries of faith, trade, and struggle have left their mark.
At its center rises the Constitution Monument, placed here in 1813 to honor Spain鈥檚 short-lived liberal charter of 1812. Remarkably, it still stands, making it the oldest surviving U.S. monument tied to constitutional government. That鈥檚 not the only marker of civic memory鈥攁nother addition, the Foot Soldiers Monument from 2011, honors the civil rights activists of the 1960s who changed the course of the city鈥檚 modern identity. Walk a little farther east, and you鈥檒l reach the Public Market Place, first established in 1598. It bustled with food and goods by the 19th century but also carries the darker memory of having served as a slave market. Its pavilion still operates as a market today, a quiet link between past commerce and present life.
The square is ringed by some of St. Augustine鈥檚 heaviest hitters: the Cathedral Basilica, the nation鈥檚 oldest Catholic parish, still standing as a spiritual anchor, and within sight, the Saint Mark's Castle, the Spanish fort that once protected the city from invaders. Cannons dot the plaza, a public well recalls earlier days, and paths shaded by palms invite pause.
Constitution Square remains both a crossroads and a reminder: a park where families gather, concerts play, and festivals spill into the night, all on the same ground where centuries of faith, trade, and struggle have left their mark.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in St. Augustine. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Plaza de la Constituci贸n (Constitution Square) on Map
Sight Name: Plaza de la Constituci贸n (Constitution Square)
Sight Location: St. Augustine, USA (See walking tours in St. Augustine)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: St. Augustine, USA (See walking tours in St. Augustine)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in St. Augustine, Florida
Create Your Own Walk in St. Augustine
Creating your own self-guided walk in St. Augustine is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
St. Augustine Early Settlements Tour
The city of St. Augustine on the northeastern coast of Florida is considered the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States. It was founded by Spanish explorer Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles on September 8, 1565, and served as the capital of Spanish Florida for more than 200 years.
One of the most significant early European sites in the city is the Castillo de San... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
One of the most significant early European sites in the city is the Castillo de San... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
St. Augustine Introduction Walking Tour
It is said that the first-ever Thanksgiving meal took place in 1565, when Spanish explorers led by Pedro Men茅ndez held a Catholic Mass and a communal meal with the Timucua people in what is now St. Augustine, Florida.
Poised on Florida鈥檚 northeastern coast, the city holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded settlement in the United States. Its story... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Poised on Florida鈥檚 northeastern coast, the city holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded settlement in the United States. Its story... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
St. Augustine's Historical Houses Tour
A great deal of St. Augustine's storied past is set in stone in the form of houses that have been inhabited for over 400 years. The number of historic homes found in the city offer a glimpse into its colorful culture with European roots.
Among the most notable of them is the Ximenez-Fatio House. Built in 1798, originally as a boarding place for wealthy travelers, today this property serves... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Among the most notable of them is the Ximenez-Fatio House. Built in 1798, originally as a boarding place for wealthy travelers, today this property serves... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles