Manila Metropolitan Cathedral or the Cathedral
Traces of the Spanish influence still loom in Intramuros. A tour of this landmark will provide the visitors a deeper understanding of Manila's rich heritage. Intramuros protects within its walls a number of national treasures like the Fort Santiago (once a prison for revolutionary Filipinos, now a peaceful park-cum-museum), San Agustin Church (the oldest structure in the country with its Baroque interiors and trompe l'oeil murals), Manila Cathedral (a magnificent architectural feat with its intricate stone carvings, stained glass mosaics, and rosette windows), Casa Manila (a former colonial house and now a museum of national relics), and San Juan de Letran school.
Intramuros has been restored for the tourists. Today, it houses a museum, art galleries, an open-air theatre, fine restaurants, craft shops and souvenir stalls. It also keeps a park lush with tropical flora and homing pigeons. The park, Puerto Real, is the venue of Saturday musical performances during dry months.
Outside the Walled City
Located outside the walled city of Intramuros are other sites and structures Manila is proud of. Among these sites is the Luneta Park or Rizal Park, which is one of the favorite destinations of many Filipino families. The park?s green areas provide perfect place to relax and have some picnic. Recently, many people are visiting the park to witness the newly installed dancing fountain. Other places to visit are the National Museum of the Philippines, Quirino Grandstand, Cultural Center of the Philippines and Manila Ocean Park.
Where to Stay
Manila, being one of the highly urbanized cities in the country, offers a lot of accommodation options for tourists and visitors. Some of the known hotels are Diamond Hotel, Manila Hotel, Baywatch Tower and Suites and Amanpulo Hotel. Apart from the luxurious hotels, budget travelers won?t also find it hard to find a place to stay in the city for there are also budget hotels and inns in the area.
Getting There and Going Around
Manila, being a big city, offers a lot of transportation options to its visitors. The primary means to get around the city is through the famous local transportation — the jeepney. At the present, air-conditioned Tamaraw FX and Toyota Kijang are also used as mode of transportation to some areas within Metro Manila along with jeepneys and buses. Other fast transportation options are taxis, which can be found in almost all the streets of Manila, LRT and MRT, which also transport people to other parts of the city. Water buses or Pasig River Ferry runs along the Pasig River and stopping at some major points of the city.
Other Places of Interest
Other than the remnants of the colorful and tragic past, Manila also boasts the quality of its nightlife. Funky bars and nightclubs can also be found in the city. Nightlife is great especially in Malate and Makati areas.
In Manila, it doesn?t matter who you are, what you are and where you came from, for you will definitely have fun in the city. All you need to do is take a deep breath and dive in.
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