Manila’s walled City also called Intramuros is set towards the Southern side of the popular Pasig River and it is positioned at the entrance of the river into Manila Bay.The building of the walled city which was begun in 1571 by a Spaniard named Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, spans an area of about 160 acres.

Once a fortress city with walls of 3km in length it was deemed as impassable. Intramuros was where the Spanish and the mixed races lived. At night the gates were locked and the Chinese or other native races were not permitted to live within its walls.

During the ruling of the Spanish the walled city was in fact considered to be as Manila itself. Today however, the walled city is the only area of Manila where Spanish influences have remained. The development of present day Manila took place outside the gates of the walled city, hence the churches, the streets and even the walls have felt little effect of modernisation.

The present day outlets of Mc Donald’s and Starbucks stand alongside the institutions of education within its walls. The moats that surrounded the walls have been filled and turned into a golf course where locals and foreigners enjoy the game amidst its ancient surroundings.

What was once Fort Santiago at the walled city has now become a popular tourist attraction where foreign travellers and locals can still enjoy a former Spanish legacy in the form of its beautiful gardens.

After a day of exploring the walled city, a quite place to relax in a Manila hotel is ideal. The Heritage Hotel Manila is one such place that is close by to the international and domestic airports and the business centre of Manila. The hotel is also close to the SM Mall of Asia which is the largest shopping mall in the country.