Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Travel Guide

 Basaic Says:  Of course most of the time at the castillo was not involved in battle. Some of the soldier's lived here so it was necessary to have other features in the castillo like Photo 1) Living Quarters; Photo 2) The Chapel; and Photo 3) La Necesaria (or the bathroom). 

 Basaic Says:  On some corners of the castillo you will see these small towerlike structures. These are called Vigia. They were used to signal soldiers away from the fort. 

 Basaic Says:  One of the most interesting parts of your visit will be the people walking around in period costume. The castillo has many volunteers who dress in period costume and reenact various activities performed during the 18th Century. One guy was dressed as a member of the Spanish... 

 Basaic Says:  You can go on a self-guided tour of the castillo or you can take a tour guided by one of the rangers. The tour is covered by the admission price. They will explain different aspects of the castillo and show you artifacts in various rooms. 

 Basaic Says:  On the corners of the castillo you will see these enlarged areas built like squares on the tips of the fort. These are called Bastions. They are designed so the defenders of the fort can put the most peope on line and so they can fire at the enemy from multiple directions. 

 Basaic Says:  Another important part of the fort's defenses were the cannons. The fort had a number of different types of cannons to fire at different targets and different distances or ranges. They could fire these cannons accurately for 6 miles. 

 Basaic Says:  The castillo wasthe most important part of the defense of Saint Augustine; but there were other defenses built too. There were walls and gates surrounding the town and a line of defenses called the Cubo Line which stretched from the fort. past the city gate, to the San... 

 Basaic Says:  The courtyard in the middle of the fort was an important part of life. The military used it for training and to conduct drills. During the sieges of 1683 and 1702 thousands of people fled the town of San Agustin to the safety of the fort. Many of them lived in the courtyard,... 

 Basaic Says:  The thick walls of the fort are built of a material called Coquina. Coquina is a natural sedimentary rock that forms along the east coast of Florida. Coquina forms when layers of sediment are layered on top of each other and are eventually squeezed into rock form. As this... 

 Basaic Says:  As you approach the fort you will cross a small bridge over the moat. The moat was filled with water and helped protect the fort from the enemy trying to get to and over the walls. 

 Basaic Says:  The Spanish began construction of a fort overlooking the St. John's River in 1672. The fort was in a strategic position to protect interests all along the river and the small town of Saint Augustine. The monument has over 20 acres and includes the Cobi Line a reconstructed... 

 DEBBBEDB Says:  The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest remaining European fortification in the continental United States. The fort was constructed by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695 of coquina, a type of shellstone on 25 acres in what is now downtown St. Augustine,... 

 grandmaR Says:  Until January 2005, I had not been to this fort since I was 16 years old. But it is obviously a 'must see' both for St. Augustine and for the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest remaining European fortification... 

 grandmaR Says:  After we had the experience of being fired on from the fort, I looked it up on the internet:From the NPS web pageCannon Season Opens Memorial Day weekend officially begins our 37th annual cannon firing season at the Castillo. Every Saturday, Sunday and holiday, weather and... 

 grandmaR Says:  Unless you get to the fort on the city tram tour (which is recommended), you will have to park somewhere. The fort parking lot has meters, so you have to be prepared with change.As noted by the sign, the lot is locked at 5:30 pm, and cars will be towed away.