The oldest church in Florida began in 1565 when Spanish soldiers built their first Roman Catholic Church. It and several other structures were burned or destroyed until this Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine was completed in 1797. It was constructed from coquina or crushed sea shells which proved resistant to future fires. The bell tower was fashioned in a Spanish mission style but on a grander scale. One of these four bells dates back further than any other in the United States. The church was extensively renovated in 1966.
