Intramuros, Manila

The old town was the centrepiece of spainish colonial period which left many catholic churches and buildings with spanish architectural style. But it is so strange that you could hardly see any tourists in this area. People always tells that travelling in Philippine is not safe, but I feel opposite here. For western travellers, there is obviously less interest to see the similiar culture. As an indepedent Chinese traveller, I truly enjoy this different and less-touristry atmosphere.

If you're a foreigner visiting Manila, this is the place to visit, specially if you are staying in nearby Ermita or Malate.

It is the main historical landmark of Manila, but when I was younger, it was the place to walk with the girlfriends, hehehe...very nice gardens and truly romantic. Reminds you of the time of the Spaniards and you can almost hear the Spanish guards "guardia civils" at night if you have an active imagination like me. But of course, I would advise walking in this area during the day, especially if you are foreign-looking.

This is the old-walled city which has a massive Southwest corner bastion called the baluarte de San Diego, built on the site of the first Spanish fortress. In the southeast is the Baluarte de San Andres.

The northern end had Fort Santiago which lies beside the pasig River. I did a lot of excursions here as a young student and so you might see some schoolkids walking around. There is a memorial to the national hero, Jose Rizal who grewu up in my Grandma's hometown of Calamba (some relatives say we are related to Rizal himself!).

Then at the very center, the awesome Manila Cathedral, rebuilt in 1958 but the original one that was here was built in 1581. In the south on general Luna Street, you mgiht see a wedding happening at the San Agustin Church (1571) - very beautiful both outside and inside and so you have to reserve more than a year before if you want to get married here! The Spaniard Legaspi, the "founder" of Manila is buried in this awesome church which has a small museum open Tues-Sun 0900-1200 and 1300-1700.

Also see the Plaza Luis which is a complex of 9 buildings which represent different architectural styles in Manila and casa manila which is a 19th century rich-man's house.

These small but lovely gardens are laid out by the remnants of the defensive moat that used to surround Intramuros . From here you catch a glimpse of Puerta Real, the royal gate that was reserved for stately processions, and a section of Intramuros' moss-covered walls. With their highly evocative atmosphere, Puerta Real Gardens provide a fitting venue for Intramuros Evenings, a series of cultural shows staged annually under the management of the Intramuros Administration.

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Silahis Arts and Artifacts is much more than just a shop selling local handicrafts. A visit to the center can help the tourist understand the multiple influences and aspects of Filipino art and culture. On display are historical artifacts, fine crafts, folk art, oriental ceramics, textiles, antiques, books, prints and sculpture. In a way, every piece purchased here serves as an expression of Filipino culture and lifestyle.

Plaza San Luis Complex is a cultural-cum-commercial complex currently composed of five houses - Casa Manila, Casa Urdaneta, Casa Blanca, Los Hidalgos and El Hogar Filipino. Plaza San Luis will eventually consist of 9 houses representing different areas in Filipino/Hispanic architecture. Aside from gift and specialty shops, the complex has a museum at Casa Manila, containing the 19th century and early 20th century furnitures found in a typical filipino illustrado or the priviledged class home.

It serves as residence and office of the governor general during the Spanish rule. The earthquake of 1863 damaged the palace. The governor then transferred residence to Malacañang in the San Miguel district, upstream of the Pasig. The building was in ruins until its remaining walls were integrated into 14-story building, called Palacio del Gobernador. The structure houses government offices and the Intramuros Administration.

This is the photo of "Palacio del Gobernador" from the named itself, you will noticed that we were really influenced by the Spanish. Palacio del Gobernador is located beside the Manila Cathedral.

Sorry again for another cut & paste. I just can't help it. The below information is from "wordpress.com". This will give you more full insight about this old building.

Residence and office of the governor general. Although the site for the governor’s palace facing the Plaza Mayor had been determined early on, no structure was built on it until the late 17th century. In the beginning, the governor’s residence was apparently built nearer Fort Santiago, facing Plaza Militar.

The palace was rebuilt at its present site by Gov. Gen. Fausto Cruzat y Góngora (1690-1701) following an atrial plan, divided by a wing that bisected the open atrium. The southern half housed the governor’s residence on the superior floor and the Secretaría de Gobierno on the lower floor, while the northern half housed the Real Audiencia or Supreme Court. The Audiencia occupied the northern wing until it acquired a building of its own in 1788.

In 1850, Gov. Gen. Narciso Claveria gave the palace a new façade in the Neoclassical idiom. The earthquake of 1863 damaged the palace. Plans to restore it were abandoned when another earthquake in 1880 struck Manila. By then the governor had transferred residence to Malacañang in the San Miguel district, upstream of the Pasig.

The building was in ruins until its remaining walls were integrated into 14-story building, called Palacio del Gobernador. The structure houses government offices and the Intramuros Administration.

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This piccies are the different views of "San Agustin Church" which is also located inside the Intramuros. This is one of the well known old church in the country.

Here is another information that I have gotten from internet (please see below the link of the website). But if you don't have much time, I have copy and paste some information that will give you a full details about our historical San Agustin Church.

The first church of nipa and bamboo in 1571 was officially known as the Church and Convent of Saint Paul. This was destroyed during the Limahong invasion in 1574. Rebuilt a year later, it became the venue of the First Diocesan Synod in 1581. Destroyed by another fire in 1586, the next church was built in stone. This was designed by Juan Macias and was built from from 1587 to 1604. The sructure was so stable that the periodic earthquakes wrought minimal damage. One of the San Agustin's bell towers, however, collapsed in the 1863 earthquake.

It was in the vestry of the church that the Spaniards and Americans discussed the terms of surrender of the city in 1898. During the last days of the Battle of Manila in 1945, hundreds of Intramuros residents were gathered and held hostage in the church by Japanese soldiers. The priests were locked up in the monastery. Some of them were later killed in the air raid shelter massacre at the Palacio del Gobernador.

Although the convent was burned during the shelling of the city, the church survived. Repaired after the war, the church became the site of the first Philippine Plenary Council in 1953. It has remained a symbol of the glorious past in the old city of Intramuros.

An intricately carved door opens the church. Of great interest are the baroque pulpit, molave choir stalls and an 18th century pipe organ. Also found here is the tomb of Manila's founder and first governor-general Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, as well as the remains of other Spanish conquistadors. The monastery, on the other hand, houses an impressive collection of paintings, statues and church objects dating back to the Spanish period.