The Best Things to See in Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Manila, the capital city of the Philippines, is a compactly colonized harborside city situated on the island of Luzon. It is an amalgamation of old Spanish colonial structural design and modern skyscrapers and is a lively but lesser appreciated city. Plan a trip to Manila and get ready for a new perspective the city is going to give you. The architecture of churches is Baroque inspired and the malls there are known to be the largest in the world which is planned with such great finesse and amazing magnitude which gives the feel of a proper cosmopolitan city.

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So while in Manila the best things that you can do are listed below.

1. The San Agustin Museum

San Agustin Museum will give you an understanding of the colonial years of Manila along with the history of how Catholic faith began to start in the Philippines. The museum was formerly known as a church which was destroyed during World War II and was reconstructed in the 1970s which included a library, sacristy, crypt, halls and its former refectory. There is a huge collection of pastoral artworks which consists of wooden sculptures, antique vestments, paintings, altars, etc. Furthermore, you will get to know of many other relevant historical facts such as how Manila was partly demolished in 1945.

2. Chinatown
Chinatown in the first visit, will not give much of a tourist spot feeling because it is a crowded and high traffic area. This place gives a very authentic feel of the Chinese trading existence that has been in the city since the 800s and the town of Binondo developed as an area for the community known as Hokkien Chinese. They were immigrants and along with their successors were oppressed during the Spanish colonial time span. There are many Buddhist temples and eateries which provide genuine Chinese food such as dim sum, etc.

3. Ayala Museum

The Ayala museum situated in Makati is extensively about the Philippines’ art and culture, archaeology, customs, folklore in a huge AC building that was earlier the stock exchange office. The six most highlighted exhibitions that deal with traditional Filipino materials including artworks from the 19th and 20th century’s renowned artists Juan Luna and Fernando Zóbel. In addition to this, you can also get to know of the country’s history at the Diorama Experience with sixty chronologically ordered models placed there.

4. Manila Bay walk

The riverside boulevard of Manila Bay is a must visit locale during the sunset as the lustrous waters were the witness to the Battle of Manila Bay between Spain and the United States Navy in 1898. The battle resulted in America’s significant victory which marked the end of the 300 years old Spanish rule. There are skyscrapers across the street which has many restaurants and bistros and with food vendors and amazing live music street performance.

5. Fort Santiago

Fort Santiago was the military base for the government of Spain, which was built in the year 1571 and the Battle of Manila had damaged few areas which were consequently renovated. The main gate of the architecture has a relief of known Spanish patron saint Santiago Matamoros and below this was the Spanish coat of arms and gives an idea of the independence movement of the Philippines that happened in 1896-1898. Additionally, there is a shrine of José Rizal, the national hero, which is built in his honour and replicates his familial home.

6. Manila Cathedral

The Manila Cathedral was established in the year 1571 and has endured natural calamities, war, fire, etc. and went through a complete renovation few years back. Meanwhile, the striking and impressive architecture in Plaza de Roma is actually the eighth rebuild and not long ago after it was reinstated, Pope Francis gave a mass in 2015. This 20th-century beautiful structure, is in itself a masterpiece, with mirror finished marble flooring, stained glass windows and high vaults in the center and has been designed by well known Filipino artist Galo Ocampo.

7. Rizal Park

The Rizal par is situated in the southern belt of Intramuros which is quite essential to Philippine history. In 1946, it was declared an independent state and the national hero, José Rizal was executed here in 1896 which brought the Philippine Revolution to its climax. The edifice was built in 1913, at the exact spot where he was killed and this was his 17th death anniversary of his which hold his relics and is under surveillance twenty-four into seven by the Marine Corps soldiers. As much as this place is of historical importance, this park is also an uncommon open area in the city and per say, a green island adjacent to some of the most crammed streets in the world.

8. National Museum of Fine Arts

The National Museum of Fine Arts accommodates many beautiful sculptures and paintings of the 19th and 20th century renowned Filipino artists such as Fernando Zóbel, Félix Hidalgo and Juan Luna. They were important artists of the epoch and they represented a movement that put Filipino art on the world art map. The magnum opus was Juan Luna’s the Spoliarium and it also won a gold medal in 1884 at the Exposición Nacional de Bellas Artes in Madrid and the symbolism was meant for José Rizal.

9. Casa Manila

Intramuros has a museum in it which portrays the colonial way of life whilst the Spanish immigration in the Philippines known as Casa Manila. It was built sometime around the 1980s and is a nice replica of a mid-19th-century residence. The base is made of stone and the upper floor has painted wood which comprises of a passage that opens to a courtyard which has a fountain and palms. The interiors have opulently designed living room that makes way to the bedroom and kitchen plus the bathroom and each room has genuine and real objet d'art placed to enhance the beauty of the décor. Moreover, the bathroom has an unusual feature of twin lavatory made out of wood which gives an interesting look.