6 Site Tour in Manila

HOLIDAY in Manila, the Philippines could be a cheap destination compared to other Asian destination. While the traffic appears to have been friendly in the city center, but some hidden history waiting to be seen.

When planning to travel to get there, here are some interesting places can be visited when arrived in Manila.

1. Fort Santiago

Fort Santiago is a defense fortress built for Spanish Conquistador, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. The fort is part of the structure of the walled city of Intramuros, Manila, Philippines.

Fort Santiago also has a high historical value because of Jose Rizal, Philippine national hero, was imprisoned in this castle before being executed in 1896. One feature the site you can see is the bronze footsteps. This is the final step when Jose Rizal walked from his cell to the execution site.

2. Rizal Park

Rizal Park is a city park located in the heart of Manila, the Philippines, precisely at the northern end of Roxas Boulevard, overlooking Manila Bay. In this park, you can see the monument of Rizal, the park is beautiful and also a small lake with a replica of the Philippine archipelago. This is one of the places frequented by locals and foreign tourists.

3. Intramuros

This is a European-style medieval town that serves as the central government in 1571-1898. Massive walls stretch as far as 4.5 kilometers, covering an area of 64 hectares in which there are palaces, churches, monasteries, schools and homes of the rich.

Unfortunately, the whole town was razed to the ground by bombing by U.S. forces as they retake Manila from Japan in 1945. At present most of the walls of the gate and the fort has been restored, this will make you as if thrown into the past.

4. San Agustin Church

San Agustin is the Roman Catholic church within the walled city (Intramuros) in Manila. Completed in 1607, this is the oldest church still standing in the Philippines. In addition to San Agustin Church, there are no other buildings of his age in the Philippines that still survive.

In 1993, San Agustin Church, one of four Philippine churches constructed in the Spanish colonial period designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, under the classification of Baroque Church of the Philippines.

Being in a church that has a length of 67.15 meters and 24.39 meters wide, you can see a touch of baroque architecture, especially on the carving doors. While in the churchyard, you'll see a statue of a lion. This church also has 14 chapels and a beautiful ceiling paintings of Italian artists, Cesare Alberoni and Giovanni Dibella.

5. Manila Cathedral

Manila Metropolitan Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila. Located in the Intramuros district of Manila, this cathedral has been damaged and destroyed several times since it was built in 1581.

After the sixth incarnation of which settled in 1958, the cathedral was ordained as a minor basilica in 1981. It is dedicated to Santa Maria as a protector Philippines.

The main facade of Manila Cathedral is decorated with statues of famous saints carved in Roman travertine stone. In the old cathedral, they were originally made of wood molave.

6. Araneta Center

Araneta Center, formerly known as the venue of the fight between Muhammad Ali Boxing Manila and Joe Frazier in October 1975, is now a central commercial area covering 35 hectares in Quezon City, Philippines.

An estimated 1 million visitors came to the Araneta Center every day. The centerpiece of the complex is the Araneta Coliseum is claimed as Asia's largest entertainment venues with seating capacity of 25,000.