Intramuros

Intramuros was founded by the Spaniards in the east of the island of Luzon , at the confluence of the Pasig River in the Gulf of Manila of the South China Sea to protect the Spanish-speaking military families and the administration from the attacks of Chinese pirates . The place for founding the city was chosen on June 24, 1571 by the Spanish conquistador Lopez de Legazpi , becoming the core of the city of Manila. For a long time, Manila and Intramuros were synonymous, but the rapid growth of the city occurred in the XIX-XX centuries.

In 1574, the Spanish settlement acquired a wooden fort, and later (in 1590) a stone fort. In the XVII-XVIII centuries, the Spaniards erected a whole complex of structures that protected the city from both the Chinese and the Malay Muslims and their proselytes in the Philippines. The Spaniards , who had just completed the Reconquista process in their own country, fiercely resisted the Islamization of the Philippines, which was gradually carried out from the south. For a long time, mainly Hispanic families lived in the walls of Intramuros, but also a significant contingent of servants of autochthonous origin. In the city, mestization , Christianization and Spanishization gained momentum. The city became the center of the spread of Catholicism, and with it the Spanish language in Asia. The number of families of mixed origin gradually increased. During the Second World War, it was destroyed, but was then rebuilt. Its modern population is about 5 thousand people (mainly Filipinos, a small number of mestizos).

Most of the attractions of Manila are located in Intramuros, since the intensive growth of the city began relatively recently and it was Intramuros that has been the main artery of the city for centuries. The ancient Spanish fortress is located south of the Passig River ( Pasig ). Before the coming of the Spaniards, the fortress was built from bamboo, the fortress of Raja Suleiman - Manail, who ruled here in the XIV century during the reign of Islam in the Philippines. After the destruction of its structures, numerous monuments of Spanish colonial architecture of the 16th – 18th centuries were erected here. In 1898, control of the Philippines passed to the United States , which defeated Spain during the colonial conflict . Intramuros has not suffered significant damage this time. However, most of the Spanish buildings were destroyed as a result of intense bombing during World War II, during clashes between Japan and the United States. Most of the Spanish-speaking elite of the city died or emigrated. Spanish in the Philippines quickly became obsolete.

In the northwestern part of Intramuros, the oldest fortification of the Spanish colony, Fort Santiago, is still preserved. Opposite is the Manila Cathedral. It is built in the Romanesque style of Philippine unbaked brick. The Manila Cathedral is a miraculously preserved Catholic church during the bombing. Intramuros was partially restored in the postwar years. It is valuable as a historical attraction that attracts many tourists. Nowadays, in the thickness of the walls of the XVI century there are a large number of art galleries , museums , restaurants and an aquarium .

For a long time, Manila largely consisted of the Intramuros fortress. Outside the ramparts lived Malay and Chinese merchants, a small number of mestizos, and local Filipino peasants. Gradually, the settlement grew and now Intramuros - only a small historical part of the metropolitan area of ​​Manila. The walls surrounding the city reached 3 km in length along the perimeter, 13 m in thickness and 6 m in height. They are made of brick and have traces of damage from bombing and earthquakes. Seven main drawbridges across the moat surrounding the fortress (once filled with water, but now dried up) once provided access to the city, creating additional protection. Now, on the site of the moat, there are golf courses. In the old part of the city there are a total of 15 churches, 6 monasteries, a university, schools, numerous offices, a hospital, and a publishing house. The best time to walk around Intramuros is in the early morning, before the heat of the day (see siesta , which is also observed in the Philippines).

• The ruins of the church of St. Ignatius of Loyola .

• Intramuros fortress plan
• Intramuros Fortress in Manila. Detailed essay .