ALERT: On our most recent visit to Saint Augustine, we walked the bridge of lions; but, the lions had been removed. I believe there is a large sea wall project that required the lions to be secured to prevent any potential damage. I was told that the lions will be restored back to their previous and prominent locations in 2028. So, the bridge is still worth the walk out (affording, nice views of the marina and city scape); but, don't expect to see the lions for the foreseeable future. For now, let's just call this 'the bridge of no lions.' read more

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Very touristy of me, but I was mesmerized by this bridge! I'm in a landlocked state, so being near water with a bridge to cross was something I'm not used to and enjoyed greatly. Very scenic and obviously functional as well. Definitely worth taking a moment to look out the window if you can do so safely as you cross this bridge. read more

Bridge of Lions - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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I am enthralled with the Bridge of Lions! Especially the statues of lions on each end of the bridge!. It is not easy to photograph them because of the heavy traffic and minimal parking spots in this busy area. But when there's a will, there's a way! I did the best I could understand the circumstances. Thanks to a concrete barrier, you can walk the bridge and focus on the sights without facing the risk of navigating car traffic. A walk across the bridge and back to see all four lions is about a mile, and worth every step. The bridge gets its name from two white marble lion statues guarding the bridge on the west side. Commissioned and donated by former St. Augustine Mayor and medical doctor, Andrew Anderson, the lions are named Fiel and Firme, Faithful and Firm. They are copies of Medici lions from Florence, Italy. They are fabulous to look at in person. Put this on your list of things to see in St Augustine. read more

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Beautiful historic bridge in St. Augustine! It was fun to walk to the little look out alcoves located on the bridge. Beautiful to see in the evening. We were here during the Night of Lights celebration that takes place during Christmastime. read more

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The Bridge of Lions is a draw bridge. So pretty with the city lights at night. It is called Bridge of Lions because of the two lions on the west side of the bridge. I learned the names of the lions are Fiel and Firme (Faithful & Firm) and it is registered as a National Register of Historic Places. read more

This is a beautiful and historic bridge for cars, bikes, motorcycles and pedestrians as well. The bridge is not too steep of a climb, so just about anyone without disability's could walk over the bridge. Going eastbound, to your left at the food of the bridge is an old, but cool motel. Then your out of the traffic and craziness. Then you can walk over the bridge to downtown St. Augustine. Make sure you take pictures as you are able to. read more

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I love bridges and this one may be my favorite bridge that leads out of St. Augustine to Anastasia Island. The bridge was built in 1925 as a draw bridge and restored in 2010. There are two magnificent carved marble Lions on the west side of the bridge that honor Ponce de Leon (lion), the explorer that discovered region. The bridge is lined with cast iron lamps. There are four turrets in the center. There is no charge to cross the bridge. During my visit, I walked across the bridge several times and watched traffic stop so that boats could pass through. What s thrill! There are nice walkways on each side of the bridge. You can also take a harbor cruise which passes under the bridge so you can see the structure from all angles. From the bridge, you can see the harbor, the famous Castillo de San Marcos fort and beautiful downtown St. Augustine. On the west end of the bridge is a little park where visitors can relax and enjoy the sites. During the holidays, the bridge is lit up for the Night of Lights. How beautiful! The Bridge of Lions is a must visit on your visit to St Augustine. read more

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This gem of history began construction 95 years ago this year! The bridge connects historic downtown across the inter-coastal to Anastasia Island. The lions guard the Historic Downtown side and on the Island side are playing- adjacent to the bridge. On a boat tour I learned about the construction of a second bridge along side the Bridge of Lions so that repairs and restorations could be made to the original. The temporary bridge is now a reef off shore. It has been named one of the top ten bridges in the country! A simply beautiful bridge. read more

This iconic bridge has been rebuilt over the years, but it retains the same look. (Bravo to the powered that be to retain the history). I have been over it countless times by car and a couple of times on foot. I once was caught on the wrong side of the gate and had an up close view of the opening/ closing cycle!! The bridge makes a great backdrop to St. Augustine pictures. Take advantage of sunrise views, as the traffic is light and the city noise is minimal. It is spectacular at night as well. read more

Bridge of Lions - Sunrise - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

An iconic piece of historic St Augustine and A MUST see while you're there. When we got married in the area we purposefully picked a balcony location that overlooked this bridge because we loved the history and dynamic it offered. We stop here every time we go back. This bridge has Lion figures at each end, this giving it the namesake. They are great photo ops and fun to pass over each time to get from one part of the city to the other. Historic St George Street, Flagler College, the Lightner Museum, etc is on one side. The lighthouse, amphitheatre, gator farm, etc is on the other. So you'll cross this bridge if you hit pretty much anything! Overall: A++ One of my favorite Bridges and a stop we'll make every time. read more

Classic drawbridge in St Augustine, one of the city landmarks. We got caught in a bridge lift so a great opportunity for a bridge selfie! read more

Bridge of Lions - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

The Bridge of Lions is beautiful. It has two majestic lion statues on the side of the bridge that heads to the historic district. We walked along the sea wall and admired the bridge. It was unfortunately under some construction on the sides when we were there at the end of June . So, I do not have pictures of the bridge itself that are worthy of uploading. This is a drawbridge and it does go up quite often to allow boats to pass. It is fun to watch the drawbridge. It does back up traffic quite a bit though. My favorite part of this bridge was crossing it early in the morning during sunrise or late at night during sunset. It has an incredibly beautiful view in any direction. You can view Historic downtown St. Augustine lit up, Castillo de San Marcos, the St. Augustine Lighthouse, and so much more. It is gorgeous. If you cross over the bridge there are a lot of restaurants and the roads that lead to St. Augustine Beach and Fort Matanzas. I will definitely be visiting and using this bridge on my next visit to St. Augustine. I hope the construction is done by then so that I can photograph the actual bridge too. read more

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Absolutely beautiful and historic bridge in St. Augustine that crosses the Intracoastal Waterway and connects the downtown area to Anastasia Island. The Bridge of Lions unique name comes from the two majestic stone lions who guard one end of the bridge. The lions were were created and designed by Italian sculptor, Romanelli of Florence, Italy and donated by Dr. Andrew Anderson to the city of St. Augustine. While visiting the city I crossed it once by car and once on foot. It's one of the prettiest bridges I've ever had the pleasure to travel across. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered one of St. Augustine's most famous sites and once you see it in person, you'll know why. Photos really don't do it justice. You really should go and see it for yourself! read more

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I love bridges and the Bridge of Lions is beautiful especially at night when boats are going past. You can see the waterway and all of the yachts and ships floating around while crossing or if you are walking along the waters edge of the city. And if you are lucky to see the drawbridge come up, that's pretty cool as well. It's one of my favorite landmarks in St. Augustine and I will one day have to take the time to walk across it on foot. I'm not sure if bikes are allowed on it, but I would definitely love to see the views that way. read more

We took this bridge back & forth when we stayed on St. Augustine beach, and would go to St. Augustine. It is a bridge of lions and you will see them at the St. Augustine side. They are quite pretty and detailed , and actually a replica of lion statues found in Florence, Italy. This is a picturesque view of St. Augustine, like many pretty areas you will find here. Take a walk by the bridge and water, and see the boats. You can just imagine what it was like in the very area back in the day! read more

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Wait...what? Why does this place only get 4 1/2 stars? Seriously? This is one of the most beautiful peaces of history in our nation and in our nations oldest city. No matter what time of the day you go...it's gorgeous, it's history, it's us...preserve it, respect it and keep it for the generations to come. I was going to write this long review on the bridge and it's history, but I honestly don't want to repeat others who have taken the words right out of my mouth and to the typing hands. I want to direct you to Dave O's review...it tells you everything you need to know and more. Personally, since staying in Saint Augustine we have included the bridge, among many other things, on our morning and evening walks. Sunrise and Sunset seem to change the bridge...transforming it into art. It is a photographer's dream with always offering a different picture. Not to mention when the bridge goes up it's pretty dang cool to watch! I just like to take a deep breath, enjoy the view of the moment, respect and enjoy it...and thank the historic folks for making it possible to have each and every moment... read more

What a great way to start an early Saturday morning!! Did the Bridge of Lions 5k today and ran over this beautiful structure to start the race. Even on an overcast day the views were spectacular. The backdrop of the historical district is perfect. Go the other way on the bridge and you are headed towards the beach. Thank goodness for those overcast skies this morning. They provided for some comfortable conditions for the 5k. This was the 35th running of the Bridge of Lions 5k. There were well over 2000 runners. The race was very well organized. Water stations at each mile and after the race. The course was well marked and snaked through a beautiful neighborhood along the river. Can't wait to do it again next year. read more

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Beautiful bridge, well preserved. There are many homeless people at night, which means the city has a poverty problem and it is just very good at hiding it, which is a pity. read more

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Built in 1926, the Bridge of Lions is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lions sculptures located on the west end of the bridge were created and designed by a sculptor listed as F. Romanelli of Florence Italy (according to sources). Romanelli originally made the smaller lions located @ the historic St. Augustine mansion known as Markland (a.k.a the Andrew Anderson House). Dr. Anderson gifted the two larger lions to the bridges building project. It is said to have been his last gift to the city. He died before the lions were installed. ---------- NOTES: Urban legend says the sculptor Romanelli was so embarrassed to have forgotten to put the ears on the lions that he committed suicide. ---------- From the beginning this bridge was built to be a showpiece, costing almost 10 times what other bridges in the area cost to build. It was to be a work of art, but sadly after decades of service it fell into disrepair. In May of 2006, the bridge was closed for renovations. An elderly woman by the name of Isabella Heard was there for its closing. She was a special part of the bridges history because as a young girl she rode on the lead float in the opening ceremony of the bridge some 79 years prior. While the bridge was closed for renovation, a temporary bridge was constructed. The 80 million dollar renovation was completed and the bridge reopened on March 17, 2010. FINAL THOUGHTS The result of the renovation is a gorgeous 90 year old bridge that looks as new as it did almost a century ago. It is a 1575 foot long masterpiece with a timeless look guarded by magnificent lions (the status symbol for Spanish royalty). IF you are visiting St. Augustine and plan to walk the historic downtown area, you simply can't miss it. There is also a nice park-like setting near the lions with benches and gazebos as well as a public dock currently housing a cool old ship called the El Galeón. It is an authentic replica of a ship that traveled the coasts of Florida 500 years ago. If you are a fan of the TV series Crossbones, you will recognize this ship! It was used during filming. TIP - El Galeón will only be in dock at the St. Augustine public marina until July of 2015, so make plans to visit soon if you want to see this beauty in person: http://www.bodaciousboats.com/GaleonPartingShot.jpg Enjoy! read more

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The bridge is a draw bridge (which my husband thought was really cool) that spans the Intercoastal Waterway, connecting historic St. Augustine from St. Augustine Beach. It's worth a quick walk across (or halfway) for the view of the city! Definitely a quick stop that provides a break from the eating and drinking you'll be doing in St. Augustine! read more

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I have just got to give this bridge 5 stars not only because of its beauty, but because of the history. I'm not going to go into facts and a history lesson on the bridge because it's already been done in other reviews. I absolutely love the huge lions who "guard" this bridge. If you're in the downtown historic district of St. Augustine, it's impossible to miss this bridge. Make it a point to check this bridge out while visiting. read more

Great sightseeing spot with beautiful views of the lagoon and marina. The sunsets and sunrises are breathtaking from here. The bridge has been completely restored recently. The two lions guarding the bridge give the place a mythical flair. There's a lot of vehicle traffic crossing the bridge, so it's a noisy area. That's the only downside. read more

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A short history lesson on this magnificent structure Official name Bridge of Lions Carries 2 general purpose lanes of SR A1A and 2 sidewalks Crosses Matanzas River (Intracoastal Waterway) Locale St. Augustine, Florida Maintained by Florida Department of Transportation ID number 780074 Design steel bascule bridge Total length 470.9 meters (1545 feet) Width 10.3 meters (34 feet) Longest span 26.5 meters (87 feet) Vertical clearance N/A Clearance below 7.6 meters (25 feet) closed Opened February 26, 1927 Original Bridge of Lions The old bridge frequently broke down, leading to calls for its replacement over the years. The man considered the "Father of the Bridge of Lions" was Henry Rodenbaugh, the vice president and bridge expert for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway. In the early 1920s he organized the bond issue to finance the new bridge, selected engineer J. E. Greiner to design it--and had his young daughter Jean pour the first bucket of concrete when the work began in 1925. Its construction came at the height of the extravagant Florida land boom of the 1920s, and the bridge is one of its greatest landmarks. It was designed not merely to carry cars, but to be a work of art, and it cost ten times as much as more prosaic bridges constructed nearby at the same time. It was completed after the land boom busted, and the 1927 dedication ceremony had to be paired with the annual Ponce de Leon Celebration in cash-strapped St. Augustine. The Bridge of Lions is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was included by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) on its list of the "11 Most Endangered Historic Sites" in the nation for 1997. From its earliest days, it was hailed as "The Most Beautiful Bridge in Dixie."[4] It has long been a symbol of the nation's oldest city. It gets its name from two Carrara marble Medici lions statues that are copies of those found in the Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, Italy. The statues were a gift of Dr. Andrew Anderson (1839-1924), the builder of the Markland House, who spent the last decade of his life putting works of art in public places in the Ancient City. The statues were his last gift, and he did not live long enough to see them installed. He had them made by the Romanelli Studios in Florence, Italy, which a decade earlier had provided him with smaller versions which he displayed on the front steps at Markland. The lions are a symbol of the Spanish royal family. Replacement bridge A "temporary" bridge was constructed adjacent to the original bridge and traffic was diverted to this structure while the original bridge was being rehabilitated and reconstructed to look like its predecessor.[5] After nearly 80 years of service, an official closing ceremony for the original Bridge of Lions was held on May 26, 2006. Isabella Heard, one of the young girls on the lead float in the opening of the bridge in 1927, was there, in a wheelchair, to tie the ribbon for its closing 79 years later. Several components of the original bridge were either being rehabilitated or returned (as lost components) to the rehabilitated bridge. Primarily, the exterior or fascia steel girders are being rehabiliated along with the bascule tower piers. Once the rehabiliation of the original bridge is completed, at a total project cost of $80 million and 4 percent over budget. The two lions were in safe storage for the duration of the construction. New Bridge of Lions Renovation work was completed on March 17, 2010 when it reopened for use the restored Lion statues were returned after a 6-year absence, early in the morning of March 15, 2011. The current bridge's west entrance features manicured gazebos, landscaped palmtrees and a new publicly accessible dock extending partially into the bay. read more

Bridge of Lions - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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For the history of this beautiful bridge see Dave O's review. This is a great place to walk out to see the boats when walking around downtown. The parks and marinas near by are also accessible to walk around. The lights at night are great to see as well. Not a big slope so if you have someone who has any issues with ramps there is no problem. Be careful of bikes as they will sometimes fly by without warning and you are trapped between two concrete walls. When you get out to the part that opens there are areas that you can also walk out on to get a better view of the water and boats. read more

I was finally able to experience this historic bridge without the cranes. I am delighted they reconstructed the bridge in its original glory, it is quite beautiful and an integral part of St. Augustine history! Have a bite at Acapulco on the terrace and enjoy the view! read more

I love the Bridge of Lions. It is a beautiful piece of architecture crossing over the Matanzas River and linking the oldest city of St. Augustine to Anastasia Island. I've spent many years in this area & seeing the bridge each time I go back has become a part of my own history. The lions guard the entrance to the bridge. Large boats are permitted to pass through here as the bridge raises to allow their passage. read more

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What an awesome piece of architecture! The Bridge of Lions is a double-leaf draw bridge that connects downtown St. Augustine to Anastasia Island. A pair of Medici lions made of marble guard the bridge on the St. Augustine side. If you find yourself by the ancient city waterfront you will definitely want to grab your camera to snap some photos. If you're lucky you will get to see the draw bridge open to let nautical vessels pass under it. read more

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Part of the A1A state road connecting downtown to barrier island of Anastasia island. Known for its marble lions, the kind you will find around Europe with a football under its paw. This it the kind of bridge where the center span opens, which can make for some great car getaway action scenes plunging into the water in high speed pretending that your Honda Civic is the Knight Rider. Starts by the waterfront which is a nice spot to walk around. Well lit at night, you can also walk across the bridge. Doesn't look like there is much to do on the other side of the bridge though. read more

I grew up in St.Augustine so the bridge of lions has always been something I have admired. The structure itself is so beautiful. If you have not walked over the bridge you must it's a fantastic adventure! read more

Bridge of Lions - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

If you're in St. Augustine this is a must see. Night time is the best time in my opinion. You can drive or walk across and I would pay money to walk this bridge, it's beautiful. read more

Bridge of Lions - Bridge or lions. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Beautiful bridge. Safe, wide enough to walk, and offering stunning views of the marina and intracoastal. The lions guarding the bridge are an absolute masterpiece, and if you're lucky enough to be in Saint Augustine at the time that the galleons are there, then you will be treated to some beautiful, full-on, panoramic views of these unique Spanish ships and feel as if you have traveled back in time to another era. read more

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Pretty bridge. Love that they kept the lions protected during the restoration. Do I wish they could expand it to allow traffic to flow better? Who doesn't. Do I want to do so with risk of losing the charm of what the bridge adds to the landscape of this old town? Nope. Seeing the fireworks over the water on July 4th is definitely a site and fun to do every couple of years. read more

$82 million? Don't know if it was worth it, but it wasn't not MY money! :-) They have reconstructed a fairly nice-looking bridge, but at a glance its historical value is not evident. You'd have to know something about the area to understand what all the fuss was about. read more

Gorgeous and historical bridge in the country's oldest city. I'm not actually a bridge person but even I can appreciate the impressive architecture, cheer when I watch it rise and life, and be in awe of the lions. My favorite views are the boats in the water but it all ties together as yet another thing that makes this city so magical and filled with peace. Love it. read more

So beautiful and recently restored. Walking or biking are both safe. Great to see the bridge up with sail boats going by.

This bridge is so incredible and deserves to be walked over as well as driven over. The architecture is stunning, the lions guarding it are beautifully sculptured. It's worth your time to explore while visiting historic St. Augustine. read more

Living in St. Augustine for approximately 25 years I enjoy the Bridge of Lions quite a bit.. on a bicycle, in a car and even on foot. The view is extremely nice! Although the restoration has become a problem for me. I knew when they first opened the bridge back up almost a year ago there would be some kinks to work out. When lots of people had negative things to say right when they reopened I gave them the benefit of the doubt. Now I just don't know..almost one year to the day and $82 million dollars later the bridge still does not always work right. Lots of taxpaying dollars involved here and part are mine and when I can not get back and forth to work due to this bridge I am not extremely happy with it anymore. I think they should have been alittle more thorough with their planning and work! read more

The new Bridge isn't as photogenic as the old bridge but it is still a nice small 2 lane bridge that gets us over to our place.

It is a cute bridge and worth taking a walk over! I didn't realize it was restored for $82 million - YIKES!!