Top 25 Manila Attractions, Philippines

The capital of the Philippines is one of the ten most populous cities in the world. During its existence, Manila has experienced many upheavals. The main ones are connected with the time of colonization and wars. The Spaniards left behind a cultural heritage, but destroyed a lot of Philippine national values. In honor of the fighters for independence, various attractions appeared. Jose Rizal, the hero of his people, was especially honored.

In Manila, there is a historical district of Intramuros, where almost every building, structure and even walls is an architectural monument. There are many churches, but Quiapo stands out among them. It houses a statue, for which several million people gather in a procession once a year. Manila is also the cultural center of the state, so the best museums in the Philippines are collected here.

What to see and where to go in Manila?

The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.

Intramuros

The oldest district of Manila. Its name means "within the walls". Despite its historical value, Intramuros remains a residential area. Tourists are primarily interested in the buildings of the past, for example, Fort Santiago. The Cathedral of San Agustin, the oldest building in the city, is also located in the district. Around the space was ennobled, golf courses were made on the site of defensive ditches.

Fort Santiago

It appeared in the city thanks to the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in the 16th century. At the same time, the structure was originally built from logs and embankments. The height of the walls is 6.7 meters, the thickness is up to 2.4 meters. The fort became the place of imprisonment of the Filipino folk hero Jose Rizal until his execution. Now the sites inside the fort are used for recreation, sometimes local theaters arrange visiting performances in the open air.

José Rizal Park

Began to form in the XVIII century. Initially, it was a square with many functions, for example, decrees were announced here and pro-independence Filipinos were executed. Among those executed was Jose Rizal, a local hero, after whom the park was later named. On the territory of 60 hectares there are green areas, monuments, a greenhouse, a planetarium, a mausoleum, museums and a lake with a model of the Philippine Islands.

Chinatown

Chinatown developed rapidly after the independence of the Philippines. It occupies two districts: Santa Cruz and Binondo. Chinatown may seem compact: walking along the main street takes just over 10 minutes. At the same time, there are many shops, interesting buildings and their own cultural traditions. Therefore, it will take time to study the area. Particularly noteworthy are the workshops where objects are made of gold and silver.

division

The market is located in the center of the Old City. Different from many typical Asian trading places. On a large space, modern malls and small shops coexist, behind the next door from a handicraft master, eminent brands are sold. You can buy everything in the Divisorium: from food to clothes and jewelry. The peak of the shopping season is a couple of weeks before the start of the school year and before the New Year holidays.

Memorare Manila Monument

Inaugurated in 1995 in the Intramuros area. Created in memory of the people who died during the liberation of Manila from the Japanese invaders in 1945. In the center of the sculptural composition is a woman with a lifeless baby in her arms, and around five more figures, also on the verge. There is a lot of symbolism in the monument. The battle lasted a month, during which time about 100,000 civilians were killed.

Manila Cathedral

It is located in the historical part of the city. The cathedral was consecrated in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the current status of the cathedral comes from the time of the colonists. The building that stands on this site now is the sixth in a row. The first temple was erected in 1571, the last in 1958. Due to the constant rebuilding, the cathedral turned out to be so unusual - combining different styles: neo-Byzantine, Romanesque and Renaissance.

Church of Saint Augustine

Construction took place in the early years of the 17th century, making the church the oldest in the Philippines. Carvings on the doors and benches, baroque decorations, sculptures in the courtyard, as well as a ceiling painted by Italian artists are the main features of the temple. On the territory of the church there are several graves of famous people. In 1993 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Binondo Church

Another name is the small basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz. Founded by Dominican friars. The original building has not survived. The current one was built in 1852. The bell tower is large and massive. It has an octagon at the base and dates back to the end of the 16th century. Although the church was damaged during World War II, the bell tower remained almost intact. The restoration of the temple was long and ended only in 1984.

Church of Saint Sebastian

In the second half of the century before last, four churches were successively built on this site. The first three were destroyed, and the basilica, dated 1891, has survived to this day. Its architectural style is Neo-Gothic. The peculiarity of the church is a prefabricated metal structure. This is done to protect the building from earthquakes. There are no similar religious objects in the world. The main shrine is the figure of the Virgin Mary from Mount Carmel.

Church of Quiapo

Erected in 1928. In the niches of the façade and on the fence there are growth sculptures. The main value of the church is the statue of the Black Nazarene. Every year a procession is held in her honor, attracting several million people. The rest of the time people come to the statue with worship and prayer. The church also conducts side activities, for example, provides the services of a doctor and a lawyer to the poor.

Church of Malate

Built by Augustinian monks on the shores of Manila Bay at the end of the 16th century. Natural disasters and wars did not allow the first building to survive. Rebuilds and repairs are ongoing. The last restoration took place in the second half of the last century. The facade is very unusual for a Catholic church. It is called a symbiosis of baroque and Muslim architecture. The walls inside are decorated with frescoes.

Casa Manila

Located in the center of Intramuros and near the Cathedral of St. Augustine. This ethnographic complex is a small area where the local bourgeoisie lived. The houses have not only retained their appearance. The interior decoration also corresponds to the past and the status of the former owners. The walls of Manila were needed, among other things, to separate the Spaniards and the Filipinos. Therefore, the quarter was always isolated.

National Museum of Fine Arts

The former name is the National Art Gallery. The building was built in 1921. Legislators used to sit here. It was transferred to the museum in 1998. The collection is diverse, all rooms are unique in their design. Paintings, sculptures, frescoes and stained-glass windows from churches and even parts of building facades are on display. There are works by eminent masters of different periods and valuable historical objects.

National Museum of Anthropology

Formerly called the Museum of the Filipino People. The building has five floors, and each has separate exhibitions on topics. One of the exhibitions is devoted to the collapse of the San Diego Legion, there are exhibits that tell about the ivory trade in the region. The museum has a library. Even in the courtyard of the complex museum exhibits are exhibited, for example, a model of a typical Filipino dwelling of the past.

National Museum of Natural History

Works since 2018. The funds are collected from several museums of similar subjects, united into one. The building was built in 1940, but it originally had a different purpose. During the Second World War it was destroyed, and after the war it was restored in its original place and in the same form. Before the collection of the Natural History Museum was placed here, the building was rebuilt at a cost of about a billion pounds.

Museum of Light and Sound

The exposition is divided into three parts: the period before the Spanish colonization, the time when the conquistadors commanded the country, the life and struggle for independence of José Rizal. The peculiarity of the museum is that the tour is accompanied by sounds and video. The transition from hall to hall is like a change in historical era. Interactive components allow you to feel like a participant in events. This makes it easier and more interesting to absorb information.

Bahai Tsinoy

Founded in 1996, and opened to visitors three years later. Dedicated to the contribution of Chinese migrants to the development of the Philippines. The collection is divided into several parts. The exhibits are things that belonged to members of the Chinese diaspora, evidence of the Chinese uprising of the 17th century, ceramics, drawings and photographs. The museum has a library, an auditorium for lectures, a theater studio.

Cultural Center of the Philippines

Opened in the early 2000s. The design of the building and the adjacent territory was carried out by Leandro Locsin. The center is impressive in size and houses several cultural institutions. Among them: the theater of traditional arts, art gallery, museums of musical instruments and art. The concert hall can accommodate about 5 thousand spectators. The square around is decorated with fountains, and its lawn remains green throughout the year.

Metropolitan Museum of Art

It was originally opened in 1976 for international exhibitions. Only the works of foreign artists were exhibited in the halls of the museum. In 1986, the rules were changed, and local famous and fashionable masters also received access to the Met. There are also permanent exhibitions, for example, the basement floor is reserved for an exhibition of gold items of the 8th-13th centuries and ceramics of the pre-Columbian period.

University of Santo Tomas

The oldest existing university in Asia. Founded in 1611 by Spanish missionaries. In addition, the university is the largest of the Catholic in the world. Currently, more than 44 thousand students study here. Its motto translates as "Truth in Grace". University buildings are located on an area of ​​more than 21 hectares. The architecture of the buildings combines the legacy of the past and modern solutions.

Paco Park

In the past, this place was a large cemetery. Burials on the territory ceased in 1912. The remains of some people were subsequently transferred to other parts of the city. There are no external reminders of the cemetery left. In 1966, a park was laid out here. The area is 4 thousand m². Once a week, a musical show is held in the park. Weddings and lavish celebrations are also often held here.

Manila Ocean Park

The city's first themed marine entertainment center. The oceanarium offers a lot of entertainment: from leisurely walks among the aquariums to educational programs. Visitors can feed the penguins, visit the spa, watch the tricks of the sea lions, and ride the local attractions. In addition to aquatic mammals and fish, there is a section with birds. Some of them are exotic.

Fort Drum

It was built in the early years of the last century. The fort is also called the "Concrete Armadillo". It is located at the entrance to Manila Bay. At present, the islet and the fortifications occupying it are more like ruins in the middle of the water. The fort was especially badly damaged during the Second World War, when there were battles between the US and Japanese troops. At the same time, part of the walls, several guns and towers are well preserved.

Corregidor Island

From Manila, the island can be reached by ferry. Corregidor has a modest size: 6.5 km long and about 3 km wide. It has a rich history associated with the settlement of fishermen and pirates. With the arrival of the Spaniards, a lighthouse appeared here, and the Americans built a military base. At the moment, a number of attractions can be viewed on the island, including the Eternal Flame, the war memorial, the Japanese Peace Garden.