Fort Santiago

We where in own to make some errands, and we took the opportunity to visit Fort Santiago.

Upon arrival we read a sign stating:

Welcome to fort Santiago
Effective 1 February 1992, the management and operation of Fort Santiago has reverted to the Intramuros Administration, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism.
Fort Santiago, a national shrine and historical landmark, is a priceless heritage of the Filipino people, dating from the 16th century.
Visitor are requested to observe order, proper decorum and cleanliness in these hallowed grounds.
Effective November 1, 2008 entrance fees shall be P 50.00 per student and P 75.00 per adult. Fort Santiago is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tourist in red. actually, this was our guide for the day. Any other day he is neighbor Tito Alejandro

A horse dragging around with some bling bling, but since we all brought our own legs today we continued by foot.

Not all signs are a cheap as they seem, this one clearly needed sponsoring.

Some fun for the small where available.

The gate to the fort and the bridge over the moat. I’m guessing its strategic not to have the bridge centered in front of the gate.

The moat and gate. Fish where swimming around, no crocodiles in sight.

Something is growing on top of the gate.

Inside, between the two walls, there where now a beautiful garden.

Jose Rizal

Rajah Sulayman, whatever that is.

Partially renovated.

I liked these.

Inside the Shrine of Jose Rizal. Texts in five languages where written on these metal thingies.

A view from the wall.

These pockets are assumed to be prison cells that can be filled up with water at will.

Claire looking over the river.

The stairs where not all that safe.

One level below.

View from the wall.

The gate and moat seen from the wall.

Manila Cathedral.

Outside Fort Santiago Manila and Intramuros where displaying it’s normal everyday face.

Ninoy Aquino Statue

Some Info on Fort Santiago:

Fort Santiago One of the oldest fortifications in Manila. Built in 1571, on the site of the native settlement of Rajah Soliman.
First fort was a palisaded structure of logs and earth.
Destroyed in the Limahong attack in 1574.
Stone fort built between 1589 and 1592. Damaged in the 1645 earthquake.
Repaired and strengthened from 1658 to 1663.
Became the headquarters of the British occupation army from 1762 to 1764.
Repaired and renovated in 1778.
Former headquarters of the Philippine Division of the U.S. Army.
Occupied by the Japanese military in 1942 where hundreds of civilians and guerillas where imprisoned, tortured and executed.
Destroyed in the Battle of Manila in 1945.
Used as depot of the U.S. Transport Corps before turnover to the Philippine Government in 1946.
Declared Shrine of Freedom in 1950.
Restoration and maintenance of the fort began in 1951 under the National Parks Development Committee.
Management was turned over to the Intramuros Administration in 1992.

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