Welcome to Fort Santiago

If there will be a place to visit that I will surely enjoy, that is a museum. In one of my visits to the historic fort in the Philippines, I got a lot to share and let me do it little by little.

Although the flyer I obtained may not be enough to tell the volume of stories that this generation needs to know, let me welcome you to Fort Santiago!

"Kuta" means fort.

Fort Santiago is open daily at 8:00 a.m.

Walk into one of the oldest Hispanic stone fortresses in the Philippines. Fort Santiago is located in the northern part of the Walled City. In pre-colonial times, this was the site of Raja Soliman's "kuta" or fort. The Spaniards under the term of Governor General Gomez Perez Dasmarinas fortified what was originally stone structures. Other governors general continued to modernize Fort Santiago's defenses which makes it probably the best laid-out portion of the walls. 

While inside Fort Santiago one can ride a kalesa. Kalesa, used as means of transportation in the colonial era, remains part of the historic Intramuros which tourists can try for themselves. In some parts of Manila, kalesa can still be seen as means of transportation like what I saw in Recto.

Comfort room labeled in Spanish with English translation.

Guardia Civil

Instead of wearing modern day uniforms, security guards around the Fort Santiago wear the colonial design of the guardia civil. The same holds true for security guards along the Intramuros area.

Visit the Fort Santiago and there will be more to know.

For inquiries:

Intramuros Visitors Center, Fort Santiago, Fort Santiago Office, Plaza San Luis Complex cor Real & Gen. Luna Streets, Intramuros, Manila

Telephone: (632) 527-4084/ 527-4088