Known as the "metropolis of the city", the Royal City of Spain was established by the Spaniards who invaded the Philippines to better rule over the local population. In order to better ensure the safety of the Spanish themselves, they built the royal city to separate the living environment of the Spaniards and filipinos. The Royal City also became the political, military, and religious center of Manila at that time.
There are also many attractions in the old city area, such as Manila Cathedral, The Chinese Museum of the Philippines, St. Augustine's Church or The Citadel of Santiago, which are very famous and well worth a visit.
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="3" > Manila Cathedral</h1>
The Manila Cathedral was built in 1581 and is a more typical Romanesque church. It resembled a castle of a feudal lord, and its solemn and sturdy architecture underscored the authority of the church. Its most distinctive features are the flower-shaped windows and stained glass, which are particularly elegant in clear weather.
The front walls of the cathedral are carved with six religious figures and various elaborate decorations, and the top is also carved with a small angel holding a cross. Whenever there is a major festival, a large number of believers gather here. In addition, there are also wedding services here, and small partners who have a special complex for church marriage may wish to know more about it.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="5" > The Chinese Museum of the Philippines</h1>
The Museum of Chinese Filipinos was built by overseas Chinese in the Philippines, and at the entrance you can see "Witnessing the Legend of the Chinese in the Philippines." From the residents to the Chinese Filipinos, this is their story, this is our story", a simple single sentence tells the painstaking efforts behind this museum, as well as the original intention and purpose of the Filipino Chinese to build this museum.
The entire museum is divided into different thematic areas. In order to bring visitors into the past history more vividly and vividly, many exhibition halls have set up scene restoration of scenario simulation. From the early embryonic form of the Chinese society in the Philippines, to the anti-Japanese fighters and celebrities who have contributed to the construction of the Philippine nation, the exhibition halls have spared no effort to show the contributions and experiences of the Filipino Chinese to the development of the Philippines.
With a ticket of 100 pesos, you can hear the story of hundreds of years of Chinese taking root in the Philippines, and it is still worth thinking about.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="7" > St. Augustine's Church</h1>
Known as the "Vatican of the East", St. Augustine's Church was inscribed on unesco's World Heritage List in 1993 and is second only to Manila Cathedral in popularity. The Church of St. Augustine, built in 1586, was not what we see today.
Due to the initial use of bamboo and mud construction, it has experienced three fires. So the rulers of the time ordered the reconstruction of the church with stone, so there is now the Church of St. Augustine, which is the oldest stone church among the surviving churches in the Philippines. Inside the church, you can also see the 18th-century pipe organ and the 19th-century crystal chandelier, revealing a palatial atmosphere. The St. Augustine Museum on the church side is also well worth a visit.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="9" > The Citadel of Santiago</h1>
The Castle of Santiago was built in 1571, and the city gates are carved with stories about Santiago. The building as a whole is built of stone and is majestic and magnificent.
The Castle of Santiago was called the "Holy Land of Freedom" by the Spanish colonial rulers, but ironically, many national heroes who fought for the freedom of the Filipino people, including Rizal, were imprisoned here by the colonial rulers and lost their freedom. For the Philippines of that era, the Citadel de Santiago was a sanctuary of freedom that belonged only to the Spaniards. To commemorate Rizal's struggle for filipino freedom, there is also a Rizal Memorial, which introduces the life and deeds of this great man.
The royal city of Spain can be said to be the living history of the Philippines, which has experienced many wars and countless natural earthquakes. Here you can quickly learn about the Philippines during the period of Spanish rule and feel the power of history.
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