TRAVEL
Intramuros, located along the southern bank of the Pasig River, was built by the Spaniardsin the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city of Manila, the capital of thePhilippines. Its name, in Spanish, intramuros, literally "within the walls", meaning within the wall enclosure of the city/fortress, also describes its structure as it is surrounded by thick, high walls and moats. During the Spanish colonial period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself.
The site of Intramuros was originally a large Indianized-Malayan-Islamic settlement named "Maynila", ruled by Datus, Rajahs and a Sultan. The name came from "may nila", "nila" being a water plant (Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea) whose star-shaped flowers clustered in abundance along the riverbanks. "May-nila," transliterates as "There is nila (here)". Maynila is also sometimes called Maynilad because nila is popularly referred to as nilad by people unfamiliar with the plant, a correction asserted by historians Ambeth Ocampo and Carmen Guerrero Nakpil.
The strategic location of Maynila, being on the Pasig River and the Manila Bay, made it an ideal location for Tagalog and kapampangan tribes and kingdoms to trade with other Asian civilizations, including Chinese, Indian and Islamic merchants who had come from China, India, Borneo and Indonesia. Maynila was also the seat of power for native chiefs and kings who ruled the area before Europeans first arrived in Luzon
In 1564, Spanish explorers led by Miguel López de Legazpi sailed from Mexico, and arrived on the island of Cebu on February 13, 1565. There they established the first Spanish colony in the Islands. Having heard of the rich resources of Manila by natives, López de Legazpi dispatched two of his Lieutenant-commanders, Martín de Goiti and Juan de Salcedo to explore the northern regions of the Visayas.
In 1570, the Spaniards arrived in the island of Luzon. After quarrels and misunderstanding had erupted between the Islamic natives and the Spaniards, both groups fought for the control of lands and settlements. In 1571, after several months of warfare, the natives were defeated, and the Spaniards made a peace pact with the Muslim tribal councils, Rajah Sulaiman III, Rajah Lakandula, and Rajah Matanda; who, in return, handed over Manila to the Spaniards.
ADVENTURES
ADVENTURES
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. Though largely destroyed in WWII it has regrouped as a large and frenetic Southeast Asian capital with a unique flavour. There are many attractions in Manila and plenty to see and do – wet weather and air pollution permitting.
The main historical attraction in Manila is the Intramuros. This is an ancient walled city originally built by the Spanish settlers – intramuros means ‘within walls’. It is a fairly large space and one of the only parts of Manila that wasn’t completely destroyed by the bombings of WWII. Wide pedestrian plazas and gardens decorate the space today.
The Manila Cathedral is inside Intramuros and this is the second most visited sight in for those embarking on Manila travel. The Cathedral is a working place of worship today and though it has had to be rebuilt and refurbished many times over the centuries it remains a beautiful and very historical building.
DINE, HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION
Manila Hotel, Intramuros de Manila Hotel, White Knight Hotel
GETTING THERE
By taxi
For visitors who don't mind shelling out a little extra - and putting up with rush-hour traffic jams - Manila's relatively inexpensive taxis are probably the easiest and most direct way of reaching Intramuros from elsewhere in the city. The current flagdown rate is ₱40, and the fare goes up in increments of ₱3.50 every 300 metres.
By train
The nearest railway station isCentral Terminal (LRT-1 / Yellow Line) [2]. Though within sight of the eastern walls, the station is a pretty long walk from the western part of Intramuros (where many of the major sights are located), so tourists headed in that direction might consider covering the rest of the journey by taxi.
By water bus
The Pasig River Ferry stops at Plaza México station, not far from the ruins of the Intendencia (Aduana) building.
