Coupon Code January 2026: Up to 20% OFF at Villa Zorayda

They created the Villa Zorayda in 1883 to serve as his winter home. He used his own method of building, consisting of poured concrete and crushed coquina shell. For his home, Smith copied specific architectural features from the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. The Villa Zorayda established a standard for architecture in St. Augustine and started the use of concrete and coquina in the city's building, as well as the Moorish Spanish Revival architectural style that is still prevalent today. The 45–60 minute tour provides a thorough examination of the building's historical importance to the City of St. Augustine, its stunning architecture, as well as descriptions of the several wonderful objects you will view. They donated precious antique treasures to the museum. The "Sacred Cat Rug," which is over 2400 years old and woven from the hairs of prehistoric cats that roamed the Nile River, is one of their most talked-about exhibit pieces.