Intramuros

Intramuros, Spanish for within the walls, is the historic walled district within Manila, Philippines. Located on the southern bank of the Pasig River, it was the original seat of government during the Spanish colonial era and served as the political, religious, and military center of Manila. Begun in the late 16th century after Legazpi's establishment of Manila, the district was surrounded by fortified walls and moats that enclosed roughly 4.5 kilometers in circumference, protecting the colonial core.

Key structures within Intramuros include Fort Santiago, a stone fortress guarding the Pasig River; San Agustín Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Baroque Churches of the Philippines; the Manila Cathedral (Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception); and Casa Manila, a museum that recreates a 19th-century colonial townhouse. Rizal Shrine is located within Fort Santiago, reflecting the district’s ties to Philippine national history.

The area suffered heavy damage during the 1945 Battle of Manila and subsequent rebuilding; much of Intramuros was reconstructed in the postwar years, with renewed effort in the late 20th and early 21st centuries to conserve and restore its historic architecture and streetscapes. Today, Intramuros functions as a cultural, educational, and tourist district, hosting museums, churches, government offices, and venues for cultural events, while retaining its historical layout and adobe-and-brick structures.