Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Villa Zorayda (Zorayda Castle), St Augustine, Florida
Villa Zorayda (also referred to as Zorayda Castle), St Augustine, Florida is a Moorish Revival property, somewhat resembling a castle, which is home to the Villa Zorayda Museum – a unique art collection.
Taking inspiration from the magnificent Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, Villa Zorayda was built in 1883 as a winter residence for Franklin Webster Smith.
After 20 years as a residence the property was sold and thrived as an exclusive restaurant and club before becoming a casino and speakeasy. Owners The Mussallem Family briefly used the villa again as a private residence but realizing the villa's importance to the local area, opened it as a museum and have owned it ever since (over 100 years).
Over the decades, the museum has been intermittently open to the public and, after an extensive 8 year restoration project, the villa reopened in 2008 as a museum once again.
In-depth tours of the museum's fascinating artefacts are available and the enchanting property is also available to rent as an events and wedding venue.
Contact Villa Zorayda
83 King St, St. Augustine, FL 32084, United States
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