Plaza de la Constitución (Constitution Square), St. Augustine

In the heart of St. Augustine, you'll find Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución), or simply "The Plaza." This public square has been a central part of life in the city since 1573. It is the oldest public space in the United States.

This beautiful rectangular square is a grassy park filled with lovely mature trees, palms, pathways for exploring, and benches for relaxing. In the center is an outdoor pavilion called "The Gazebo," where city events, entertainment, and summer concerts take place.

While exploring Constitution Square, you'll find several intriguing monuments. The Constitution Monument, inaugurated in 1813, is a prominent obelisk that celebrates the Spanish Constitution of 1812. Erected in 2011, the St. Augustine Foot Soldiers Monument is a bronze sculpture dedicated to civil rights activists of the early 1960s.

At the east end of the square along Charlotte Street, you'll find historical Public Market Place. This open-air pavilion was established in 1598 as St. Augustine's first marketplace. In 1824, the market began selling meat, produce, and other goods. With a dark past, this was also once used as a slave market. The pavilion is still used as a public market today.

Not far from the Public Market Place is the old public well. Around the square, you'll also find several cannons on display that were once used to defend the city. An exploration of this fascinating public square is a must-do on your journey around St. Augustine.