Welcome to the Past, Present, and the Future

Plaza de Roma

Formerly called Plaza Mayor. Converted into a park in 1797. Renamed Plaza McKinley after U.S. President William McKinley in 1901. Renamed Plaza de Roma in 1961 to honor Sacred College of Cardinals in Rome following elevation of first Filipino cardinals, Rufino J. Santos.
Bronze Monument to Carlos IV of Spain erected in 1824 as a tribute for the introduction of the smallpox vaccine in the Philippines. Fountain built in 1886. Statue replaced by Gomburza monument in the 1960s. Statue returned in 1981.

Church of San Agustin

Oldest stone church in the Philippines. Plans were approved in 1586. Construction started in 1587 and completed in 1607 under the supervision successively of Augustinian fathers Francisco de Bustos, Ildefonso Perez, Diego de Avila and brother Alonso de Perea. Its architect was Juan Nacias. It has withstood many earthquakes from 1645 up to the present and survived the British invasion in 1762. The Spanish-American war in 1898 and the Japanese invasion in 1942. The church choir has 68 carved molave seats with narra inlaids. An artistic lectern and parchment cantorals of the 17th and 18th centuries. The church and its graves were profaned during the British occupation of Manila in 1762. The ashes of early Spanish conquistadores Legazpi, Salcedo, Lavezares, and blessed Pedro de Zuniga and others now rest in the easternmost chapel of the transept. Terms for the American occupation of Manila were prepared in the vestry of the church in 1989. The first Philippine Plenary Council was held here in 1953. Chosen as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1993.

Pintong Postigo

Ito ang ikatlong pintong nakaharap sa look ng Maynila at tinatawag na "Puerta Postigo del Governador" na malapit sa likuran ng palasyo ng gobernador noong panahon ng Kastila. Muling itinayo noong 1783 sa kinadoroonan ng ikalawang pinto ng inhinyero ng hukbo na si Thomas Sanz noong panahon ni Gobernador Jose Basco at Vargas. Sa pintong ito nagdaan si Dr. Jose Rizal nang siya'y dalhin ng mga kawal na Kastila buhat sa kuta ng Santiago hanggang Bagumbayan. (ngayo'y bahagi ng Rizal Park) upang barilin noong ika-30 ng Disyembre, 1898. Sa silid ng mga opisyal ng pintong ito ikinulong si Tenyente Manuel L. Quezon noong 1902 matapos sumuko sa mga Amerikano. Nasira ang bahagi ng pinto noong 1945 dahil sa digmaan. Muling ginawa ng Intramuros Restoration committee noong 1968 sa tulong ng abuloy ng Inner Wheel Club ng Maynila, ng pambansang pamahalaan, at ng lungsod ng Maynila.

There's Everything To See... and There's Everything To Do...

There are dungeons and dens. Museums and music. Parks and plays, History and horticulture. Casas and cathedrals. Picnics and plazas. Golf and gastronomic delights. Treasures and tiendas. Art and antiques. shopping and sightseeing. Ramparts and rendezvous. Intramuros is always throbbing with life. Which makes it an ideal place for people to work in and play in... or live in. You can't just drop by. You'll be staying a while...

Baluarte de San Diego

Designed and built by Jesuit priest Antonio Sedeñno from 1586 to 1587, it is one of the oldest stone fotifications in Intramuros. Began as a circular fort called Nuestra Señora de Guia. Reonovated in 1593 to join the walls of the city. Fort fell in disrepair and, in 1644, construction began for a new baluarte which was completed between 1653 and 1663. Resembling an ace of spades, it housed a foundry during the 18th century.
The baluarte was breached by British forces with cannon fire in 1762. Restored and strengthened after the British occupation but was damaged during the 1863 earthquake. It was destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945. Restoration in 1979 and completed in 1992

You Can View the Rest of the World From Here

Considering that these walls embrace a city of so many, many faces... it isn't surprising to view the rest of the world from here.
For while this is a city of basically Spanish influence, everywhere is evident the touch of our Chinese forebears, the American colonization, and even a shade of England's short stint in this country.
It's virtually a 67-hectare tour of the world.
Here, too, one can witness the gathering of time - past, present, and future.
Walk the city and experience how time has stopped in some places, and moved on in the others.
One minute, you're walking along 17th century cobblestones... the next minute you're on 20th century concrete streets.

A Grand Place to Visit

The place is filled with history and historical landmarks, tradition, culture, art spanning many influences and eras, architectural detail, religion, lifestyles - old and new, business and investment opportunities, and leisure!
Discover here how this beautiful City has survived the ravages of time and remained as exciting and interesting as ever. Each stop is a pleasant surprise.

* Title and captions were lifted from True World Travel tourism brochure.

These photos were taken using Canon EOS 750QD and Canon 35-70mm lens on Kodak Gold 100 film.