Dawn Spencer REALTOR® · Hi Real Estate

Neighborhood Guide · Duval County

San Marco: a 1920s neighborhood with a village square.

Just south of downtown across the St. Johns River, San Marco was planned in the 1920s around a square modeled on Venice's Piazza San Marco. Today the square's lion fountain, theatre, shops, and restaurants anchor one of Jacksonville's most walkable neighborhoods.

By Dawn Spencer · Last updated

San Marco at a glance

CountyDuval
SettingHistoric neighborhood on the Southbank
HomesMediterranean Revival and Colonial homes, bungalows, riverfront estates, and new townhomes
NearbyDowntown, Riverside, St. Nicholas
The lion fountain in San Marco Square
San Marco Square Photo: Cuchullain · CC BY-SA 3.0
Shops and palms along San Marco Boulevard
San Marco Boulevard Photo: PicoOrdinalo · CC BY-SA 4.0

Highlights

What sets San Marco apart

  • San Marco Square: the lion fountain, Balis Park, the San Marco Theatre, and local shops
  • Riverfront homes and parks along River Road
  • A short drive or bridge walk to downtown and the Southbank Riverwalk
  • Holiday Magic in the Square each December

Buying Here

What to know

Historic homes here deserve careful inspections (roof, electrical, plumbing, and a four-point for insurance), and riverfront lots have their own flood and seawall questions.

Luxury homes · Discretion and detail at the top of the market.

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Community & Official Sites

Straight from the source

Amenities, rules, assessments, and events as the community, club, district, or city publishes them. Club memberships are separate from HOA and CDD fees; I'll pull the current numbers for any home you're considering.

Map

Where San Marco is

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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundaries shown are approximate; confirm a specific address with the county property appraiser.

Before You Buy

Questions to answer for any San Marco home

  • Current property taxes, and what they may become without the seller's homestead exemption
  • HOA dues, what they cover, and any special assessments or capital contribution at closing
  • Club membership requirements and costs, if any
  • FEMA flood zone and whether flood insurance is required or recommended
  • Roof age and wind mitigation features, which drive insurance cost
  • School assignments for the specific address, confirmed with the district

Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Jacksonville Beach are separate cities that set their own tax rates, while the rest of Duval County is the consolidated City of Jacksonville, so compare tax bills carefully between areas.

Research Tools

Look it up yourself

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Annual Events & Traditions

Events and traditions around San Marco

In San Marco

December

Holiday Magic in the Square

The San Marco Merchants Association's tree lighting in Balis Park, with Santa, carolers, snow, and the Festival of Lights 5K the same evening.

Details

Across the river in Riverside and Avondale

December

Luminaria

One night each December, Riverside and Avondale's streets glow with thousands of candlelit luminaries. A neighborhood tradition for more than 40 years.

Details

April and May

RAP Home Tour & Garden Tour

Riverside Avondale Preservation opens historic homes and gardens for its annual spring tours.

Details

Saturdays, year-round

Riverside Arts Market

Art, food, and music under the Fuller Warren Bridge on the Riverside riverfront.

Details

Dates change from year to year; check each organizer's site. For what's happening tonight, see Livedrp below.

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Live music and nightlife near San Marco

Within 3 miles around San Marco Square: 50 nightlife spots, including 15 with live music. This week, 5 of them have events on the calendar. A few of the closest (names open in Google Maps; tonight's lineup is in the Livedrp app):

See what's live tonight Livedrp shows live music, events, and specials happening near San Marco right now. Open Livedrp

Venue data from Livedrp as of 2026-11-04. Disclosure: Dawn Spencer is the founder of Livedrp.

Neighborhood information is general and believed reliable but not guaranteed. Confirm HOA rules, club memberships, flood zones, and school assignments for any specific property.

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Next Step

Luxury homesDiscretion and detail at the top of the market.New-listing alertsNew homes here the day they list.Selling here?A personal valuation from recent sales.True cost calculatorTaxes, insurance, HOA, and CDD in one number.

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Dawn Spencer, REALTOR® · Hi Real Estate