Casa Manila
Plaza San Luis Complex, Gen. Luna cor. Real Sts.

A great place for casual history buffs, entering Casa Manila is bound to give tourists a ticket back in time. This is a replica of a genuine 19th-century Filipino residence before the arrival of the Americans on the archipelago, fully maintained by the government-run Intramuros Administration since 1979. It is touted as a "colonial lifestyle" museum, built in keeping with traditional Spanish-era architecture and engineering. For instance, the lower walls are made of adobe or volcanic tuff, while an 1850s Calle Jaboneros residence in San Nicolas inspires the facade of the modern-day Casa Manila. The rooms are completely furnished with period furniture, curios and tools, such as old hardbound Spanish bibles, coal-heated irons, an Indian hand-operated ceiling fan, and a cement dome of a bread oven. Although it shares the bottom entrance with the rest of the commercial/cultural Plaza San Luis complex (also housing the restaurant Barbara's and Hotel Intramuros), it is in no way less fascinating than the interior. Tickets are priced at PhP50 for adults and PhP15 for students with ID. A bit of a caveat: Pictures are sadly not allowed inside Casa Manila.

Fort Santiago and Rizal Shrine
Gen. Luna St.

Simply put, a tour of Intramuros would not be complete without Fort Santiago. This was the Spaniards' once-mighty military headquarters, decorated by the wooden relief of Spain's patron saint James, Slayer of Moors (Santiago Matamoros), hence the name. Although the fort has had its gloomy history, as a dreaded barracks and prison of the Spanish and torture den of the Japanese, it was destroyed by the Americans in 1945 and was restored in 1950 after its declaration as a "shrine of freedom" by Congress. This is also where national hero Dr. Jose Rizal spent his final days before execution by firing squad. The old adobe barracks has been converted to the Dulaang Rajah Soliman, a small theater, and to the left side is Rizal's old chapel-cell. An old reducto has been converted to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, as well. Inside Rizal Shrine-also an old brick barracks-are the doctor's manuscripts of his novels Noli Me Tangere ("Touch Me Not") and El Filibusterismo ("Subversion"), as well as his tools, clothing and other curios like the Rizaliana Furniture Exhibit.

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