FLORIDA

Where is it? With

which states does it
border?
Florida is located for the most part on a large
peninsula between the Gulf of Mexico,the
Atlantic Ocean and the Florida Strait. It
extends to the southeast on a strip of land. It
borders to the north with the status of Georgia
and to the west with Alabama.It is very close
to the Caribbean islands and particularly to the
Bahamas and Cuba. Florida is divided into 67
Counties.
The history of Florida
Archaeological findings show that Florida was already inhabited thousands of years
before the European colonies arrived. Of the indigenous tribes the best known are the
Ais, the Apalachee, the Calusa, the Timucua and the Tocobago. Let us not overlook the
presence of the Seminole, a proud and noble tribe that was able to bravely resist the
overwhelming military and demographic pressure of the United States for years. Juan
Ponce de León, a Spanish conquistador, gave Florida its name on April 2, 1513 on the
occasion of Pascua Florida (Spanish term for Easter). In 1565 the Spaniards founded
San Augustín, which was the first European center in North America. In the following
centuries, both the French and the Spaniards created colonies on the peninsula with
alternating phases of success.

The area of Spanish Florida decreased with the establishment of English colonies in the
north and French colonies in the west. The British weakened Spanish power in the area
by helping their allied Indian tribes to fight those allied to the Spanish.

Britain gained control of Florida diplomatically in 1763, through the Peace of Paris, with
which it was divided into an eastern and a western part. The British attempted to develop
Florida by importing immigrants to create jobs, but the project ultimately failed. Spain
regained Florida after the defeat of the British against the American colonies and the
subsequent Treaty of Versailles in 1783. Due to the border wars against the warlike tribes
of the natives, the region was effectively occupied by American troops and settlers since
1810. -13. Finally, in 1819, under the terms of the Adams-Onís Treaty, Spain ceded
Florida to the United States in exchange for the US waiving any claims regarding Texas.
It became an autonomous territory in 1821, it entered the Union as the 27th state on
March 3, 1845. A secessionist state, it was readmitted to the Union only in 1868.
The most important monuments
of Florida
The most important monuments are:
Bok tower gardens: the Bok Tower Gardens
Certainly one of the Sun State's most fascinating historic
landmarks, Bok Towers boasts a beautiful 250-acre
garden and bird sanctuary in Lake Wales. Additionally,
this National Historic Landmark has a 205-foot singing
tower with some of the best chime bells in the world.
Villa vizcaya:
former villa of agricultural industrialist James Deering,
This early 20th-century- italian-inspired estate is
currently a museum with 34 richly decorated rooms filled
with vintage art and antiques. The 10 acres of lush tropical
gardens and solid wood hammock forest located on
beautiful biscayne bay are worth visiting.
Ernest Hemingway House:
From 1931 to 1961, celebrated author Ernest Hemingway resided in this
beautiful Spanish colonial house in the heart of Key West until his death.
Private and for-profit, guests can tour the residence, hear Hemingway stories,
and observe sixty seven-toed cats who are descendants of the latest author's
pets.

Cattedrale di Sant'Agostino:Originally founded in

1565 and later rebuilt during the 18th century, the Cathedral
Basilica of St. Augustine is the oldest parish in the United States.
With a Spanish Renaissance bell tower, replicas of paintings in
the Vatican's Pauline Chapel, and Victorian stained glass
windows, this site is a must for history buffs.