«The saddest and strangest cemetery« San Sebastian Cemetery is said to be the oldest black cemetery in St. Augustine. I did some research on the place before visiting it with a friend by talking to people, who knew about its history and have been there. Horribly neglected and a place strewn with broken glass and beer bottles. A hot spot for desecration of graves and voodoo rituals to raise the dead or necromancy. I was told that it was a very sad place. Reading up on it, I found out slaves were buried there. No one knows when the cemetery came into existence. They just know it is very old. My first and last visit to this place was two years ago, it was worse than what I expected. I saw broken bottles strewn everywhere and desecrated graves with broken grave stones. In broad daylight, I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness tinged with fear. I could see the beautiful well manicured Evergreen Cemetery beside it. It made the terrible condition of San Sebastian Cemetery seem more morbid and pitiful. I’m guessing a lot of poor and/or black people were buried here. There seems to be little respect for the graves. Volunteer attempts to clear the cemetery seem to be futile. The last burial in this cemetery was in 2012. I can not recommend this place to everyone. If you like cemeteries or have a morbid curiosity, you might want to come here. I like this place because it seems to evoke the most mystery and emotions among all the cemeteries I have seen in my life. This is why I give it 5 stars.
