San Agustín, St. Augustine (14)

cathedral

Source: WTL photograph© June 2007.
Image: (Roman Catholic) Catedral Basílica of St. Augustine and diocesan headquarters of the Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine. It is on Cathedral Place across from the Plaza de la Constitución at the south end of St. George Street.
Comments: This building dates to 1793—1797, in the second Spanish period. It houses the oldest continuously active Catholic parish in the continental United States (Puerto Rico is older by far). The first Catholic mass in St. Augustine was held on September 8, 1565, the feast day of the birth of St. Mary; the cathedral's patron saint, however, is St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the Patristic Fathers of the Church.
For reference to the first parish church in San Agustín, in 1572, see the following link: =>

The first Spanish Catholic mission in the interior of Florida was Misión San Francisco de Potano. It was established in 1606 by Franciscan friar Martín Prieto, who was sent out from the Misión Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine. The Potano people were a tribe of the Timucua who lived in Alachua County. The mission was located 8 miles NW of Gainesville, which is the county seat of Alachua County. Friar Martín Prieto also founded a visita nearby, which he called San Miguel.
For Friar Martín's account, click here: => #14b: Friar Martín.
For four images of the interior of the Cathedral, click here: => #14c: Cathedral sanctuary.
Latin American humanities: The Cathedral is in Spanish 18th century colonial architecture. The style is predominantely vertical with ogee curves and a fusion of Spanish Baroque elements and a Moorish-style belfry, an 18th century façade, and the bell tower in the Spanish Renaissance style. Out of the photo's frame is a golden cross at the top of the tower. Essentially, the façade is identical to the original one, although the rest of the building was damaged a couple of times by fire.