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History

Pensacola was the first European-inhabited settlement in what would later become the United States of America.Main article: History of Pensacola, Florida Pensacola, Florida has a rich and colorful history dating back 450 years, being the first European settlement in the continental United States (1559)[6][7][8] and controlled by five countries. Pensacola's location has caused great turmoil, with many buildings destroyed by wars and by numerous major hurricanes. The location, south of the original British colonies, and on the dividing line between French Louisiana and Spanish Florida along the Perdido River, has caused the possession of the city to change multiple times. Pensacola has been under the possession of the Spanish, French, British, United States and Confederate States, and has remained a part of the United States since the end of the American Civil War. Along with wars, numerous hurricanes have been a massive factor in Pensacola history, destroying houses and leaving many people homeless.

Pensacola: site of 1698 settlement near Fort Barrancas is marked "X" (above left end of Santa Rosa Island).Early exploration of Pensacola Bay (called Polonza or Ochuse) spanned decades, with Ponce de León (1513), Pánfilo de Narváez (1528), and Hernando de Soto plus others charting the area.[8]

Due to prior exploration, the first settlement of Pensacola was large, with over 1,400 people on 11 ships from Vera Cruz, Mexico[7] landing on August 15, 1559,[8] led by Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano. However, weeks later on September 19, 1559,[7][8] the colony was decimated by a hurricane which killed hundreds, sank five ships, grounded a caravel, and ruined supplies. The 1,000 survivors decided to relocate and resupply the settlement but, due to famine and attacks, the effort was abandoned in 1561.[7] About 240 people sailed to Santa Elena (today's Parris Island, South Carolina), but another storm hit there, so they sailed to Cuba and scattered.[7] The remaining 50 at Pensacola were taken back to Mexico, and the Viceroy's advisers concluded that northwest Florida was too dangerous to settle, a belief that endured for 135 years.[7]

Pensacola Weather & Climate

Northwest Florida just east of the Alabama State line near the Gulf Islands National Seashore, has a semi-tropical climate with hot, humid summers and warm winters. More than 50 inches of rain is received in this region per year, with most of it in the months between May and September. This, along with the Gulf of Mexico, creates high humidity during this time. Thunderstorms are almost a daily occurrence in the summertime, but they generally do not last long and the sunshine returns. Winter, by comparison, is delightfully much cooler and drier, with perfect conditions for outdoor activities. The hurricane season runs August through October, but direct hits are rare and excellent forecasting gives plenty of warning time for these types of storms

Surrounding areas:

Travel Guide of Pencsacola

Pensacola got its name from the Panzacola Indians who greeted the first Spanish explorers in 1559, when Don Tristan de Luna led 1,400 colonists to what is now Pensacola Beach. But a major hurricane sank ships, drowned livestock, and prompted them to flee. Although the Panzacola Indians are now extinct, Creek Indians live in the area and celebrate their traditions.

Native Americans left pottery shards and artifacts in the coastal dunes here centuries before Tristan de Luna arrived with a band of Spanish colonists in 1559. Although his settlement lasted only 2 years, modern Pensacolans claim de Luna made their town the oldest in North America. Pensacola actually dates its permanence from a Spanish colony established here in 1698, however, so St. Augustine wins this friendly feud, having been continuously settled since 1565.France, Great Britain, the United States, and the Confederacy subsequently captured (and in one case recaptured) this strategically important deep-water port. They left Pensacola with a charming blend of Old Spanish brickwork, colonial French balconies reminiscent of New Orleans, magnificent Victorian mansions built by British and American lumber barons, and its motto, "City of Five Flags."West of town, the excellent National Museum of Naval Aviation at the U.S. Naval Air Station celebrates the storied past of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots who trained at Pensacola. The Blue Angels, who are based here, demonstrate the high-tech present with thrilling exhibitions of precision flying in the navy's fastest fighters.Also on the Naval Station, historic Fort Barrancas looks across the bay to Perdido Key and Santa Rosa Island, which reach out like narrow pinchers to form the harbor. Out there, powdery white-sand beaches beckon sun-and-surf lovers to their spectacular Gulf shores, which include Pensacola Beach, a small family-oriented resort, and most of Florida's share of Gulf Islands National Seashore, home of historic Fort Pickens.

Why Visit to Pensacola ?

Fifty-odd miles (80km) of white sandy beach washed by azure ocean should be enough to draw sun-seekers to holiday in Pensacola, but this Florida city boasts far more natural attractions and some fascinating historic sites too. The city is also home to the US Navy's crack Blue Angels flight squad, and is renowned for its air displays when hundreds travel to Pensacola for the thrills.

When Visit to Pensacola ?

The sun shines all year round in Pensacola, so anytime is a good time to travel to Pensacola, although it can be windy in autumn.

Who for Pensacola?

A holiday in Pensacola is not for those seeking the archetypical Florida experience of theme parks and fast-food. It caters for a more sedate market: those who appreciate excellent seafood, miles of deserted beach, spectacular views, scuba diving on the many shipwrecks and exploring the local historic sites.

Pensacola Vacation Rentals

Pensacola is located on the Florida Panhandle, just east of the Alabama State line near Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Downtown Pensacola boasts multiple historic districts that can transport you back to the time of the Spanish colonists and treasure-seeking conquistadors. Narrow brick streets and buildings with balconies, inviting plaza gardens and landscaped fountains reflect a definite European influence. The Seville Square Historic District is the site of Pensacola’s first permanent Spanish settlement, and within the settlement is the Historic Pensacola Village. This is Florida’s equivalent to Colonial Williamsburg, with a collection of stunning restored buildings that celebrate a part of Pensacola’s history. This dramatic, historic area fronts on forty miles of Gulf beaches. The Big Lagoon State Recreation Area in Pensacola is one of the largest state parks in northwestern Florida. The 698-acre lagoon includes wetlands, salt marshes, sandy beaches and wonderful wildlife viewing. There are hiking trails along the beaches, swimming, fishing, canoeing, picnicking and full-facility camping. An observation tower at East Beach provides a panoramic view of the park and lagoon and Gulf Islands National Seashore. Pensacola also has a Civil War Soldiers Museum, a Wildlife Rescue and Sanctuary and a Science and Space Theater.

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