Where to Go on Your One-Day Tour of Intramuros

Once a long weekend is announced, it's become second nature for us to book a flight to an island, spend three days shopping, or probably even stay home for a movie marathon. Instead of spending your money on another trip to the mall, why not rediscover old Manila, instead? Intramuros and its surrounding areas are rich in culture and history—all you need are good walking shoes, a bit of pocket money for entrance fees, and sunblock. Here are some interesting places to visit and things to do on your free day.

IMAGE Real Living

IMAGE Real Living

Rediscover a 400-year-old church

You may remember the San Agustin Church and Convent from a friend’s wedding, but now’s the time to rediscover this UNESCO World Heritage Site in another light. Built in 1571 by Augustinians, the church is considered the oldest in the country, and is also one of the most beautiful, and features decorative styles from different eras. The façade is high Renaissance, while the interiors have Baroque lines. A breathtaking trompe l’oeil (literally, “fool the eye”) mural painted by Italian artists from the 1800s covers the entire vaulted ceiling.

While you’re there, don’t miss going up to the coro or choir loft, which artisans from the Escuela de Taller de Filipinas restored recently. Sixty-eight ornately carved, high-backed chairs from the 1600s surround the coro, and in the middle of the loft is a lectern that holds centuries-old hymn books.

San Agustin Church is at General Luna Street, Manila. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed at lunch).

IMAGE Real Living

Explore the labyrinthine museum

Most first-time visitors have an impression that the Museo de San Agustin only houses religious artifacts. The museum does contain many religious artifacts in their collection, but it also gives us a lesson of how Manila (and the Augustinian order) was born on these sands. Its vaulted hallways and stone exhibit rooms are a veritable treasure trove of Chinese pottery, large-scale art pieces, furniture, and intricately embroidered priests’ vestments. Even if it may make your hair stand on end, do visit the Sala de Profundis or crypt that serves as the final resting place for historical figures like the painter Juan Luna.

IMAGE Real Living

Learn about medicinal plants

On the second floor of Museo de San Agustin is a special exhibit of medicinal plants studied and used by Augustinians (who embraced science, even 200 years ago). On display are the ceramic pots used to store the precious seeds of these medicinal plants. Far from quackery, you would probably recognize some of the plant types from the labels—lagundi, bignay, and bangkal—plants that, to this day, are used to treat common illnesses and wounds. Also on display is the actual 1800s Flora des Filipinas book, Father Blanco’s compilation of exquisitely detailed botanical drawings of local plants.

IMAGE Real Living

Hop on a bamboo bike

Biking is a good way to explore Intramuros if you don’t want to walk, and you could do it with an eco-twist and help a social advocacy by taking a Bambike ecotour. Bambike builders from Gawad Kalinga create the bikes, the frames of which are made from sustainable bamboo. The tour covers 12 locations and runs for about two-and-a-half hours. They offer two tours (one at 10 a.m. and the other at 3 p.m.) from Tuesday to Sunday. 

Bambike is at Real Street corner General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila. For more information, log on to Bambike's website.

IMAGE Real Living

Take a peek at 19th-Century living

Located within the Plaza San Luis Complex along with Barbara’s Restaurant and Bambike is Casa Manila, which is a 1980s reproduction of a late-19th-century to early-20th-century bahay na bato of an upper-middle-class family. Some parts of the house, like the floorboards (you’re not allowed to step on it, only on the carpeted areas) are authentic, and the donated pieces of furniture and artifacts give you a feel of how life was during the Spanish-colonial era. Don’t miss the bathroom at the back of the house—it sports side-by-side wooden toilet bowls.

Casa Manila is at Intramuros, Manila. Open from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Tuesday to Sunday).

IMAGE Real Living

IMAGE Real Living

Climb the Baluarte de San Diego

A baluarte is a stronghold or sheltering area against invasions in a fort, and Intramuros has several of them. One of the most famous is the Baluarte de San Diego, a circular stone fortification that was first built in 1586. It housed a foundry at one point, was damaged by British cannons in 1762, and was destroyed during World War II.

Restored in 1992, the Baluarte de San Diego’s entrance is beautifully landscaped and is a nice area to stroll in. Aside from exploring the baluarte itself (you can climb up the stone stairs to see it, but not go into it), you can also explore the stone ramparts surrounding it. 

Baluarte de San Diego is at Sta. Lucia Street, Intramuros, Manila. 

IMAGE Real Living

Retrace Rizal’s footsteps

Fort Santiago is a popular destination for school field trips, and although its once-lush Plaza Moriones has been replaced with a more modern, treeless plaza, it is still worth a visit. A large moat surrounds the impressive stone fortification—which dates from 1571—and its famous, reconstructed main gate. National hero Jose Rizal was imprisoned here prior to his execution, and his detention cell is located in the Rizal Shrine, which exhibits many of the hero’s personal effects.

Fort Santiago is at Intramuros, Manila. Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesday to Sunday).

IMAGE The Manila Collectible Facebook page

Shop local at a store with an advocacy

Hidden in between the usual souvenir shops along the walls of Fort Santiago is The Manila Collectible Co., which is chock full of houseware and clothing using Filipino tribal textiles, indigenous weaves, and other local crafts you can’t find at tourist traps. Its owner, Charisse Tugade, aims to educate shoppers about Filipino culture through TMC’s products, and occasionally holds talks and workshops.

The Manila Collectible Co. is at Sta. Clara Street, Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. For more information, log on to The Manila Collectible's Facebook page.

IMAGE Real Living

BONUS: Visit the National Museum

While you’re in the area and if you have a couple of hours left, drop by the National Museum National Art Gallery, which is just 1.8 kilometers from the site. View the sculpture halls, Luna-Hidalgo galleries, and Amorsolo paintings, but don’t leave without seeing the Spoliarium. Best thing about the museum is that entrance is free!

National Museum is at Padre Burgos Avenue, Manila.

This story originally appeared on Realliving.com.ph. Minor edits have been made by the SPOT.ph editors.