St. Augustine's Historical Houses Tour (Self Guided), St. Augustine

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 as a museum showcasing the lifestyle of the people who lived here during the 19th century.

The Oldest House Museum complex lives up to its name, featuring the oldest surviving Spanish colonial dwelling in Florida, dating back as far as the 1600s. Visitors can take a tour of the property and its gardens, as well as view the exhibits about the city's history.

The Villa Zorayda, built in 1883 by a wealthy businessman who was inspired by the architecture of the Alhambra palace in Spain, nowadays houses a museum displaying artifacts from the Moorish and Spanish cultures.

Among other historic properties worth checking out are the Llambias House (one of the city's oldest surviving buildings – of 1763), the Governor's House (constructed in the early 1700s as a residence for the Spanish colonial governors of Florida – now a Cultural Center and Museum), the Avero House (an 18th-century former home of a prominent Spanish family, presently converted to a Greek Orthodox Shrine), and the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Home (once inhabited by the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Yearling").

To learn more about the people and cultures that have shaped the eventful history of St. Augustine, Florida and explore the historic houses associated with them, take this self-guided walking tour.