Manila Sightseeing

The cosmopolitan city of Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is located in the west coast of the island of Luzon. One can find Malay, Spanish, American, Chinese and Arabic influences in the culture of the city.

Manila at persent is comprised of two parts, the City of Manila and Metropolitan Manila. The former is located alongside Manila Bay and was occupied by the Spaniards in 1571. Metropolitan Manila comprises 17 other cities, along with the city of Manila.

In Manila, tourists can acquaint themselves with the culture of the city by visiting the prominent attractions dating back to the Spanish colonial era. Dedicated sights like Rizal Park and Intramuros enable one to trace the development of Manila from a Muslim settlement on the banks of Pasig River to a Spanish colony. To learn about the architecture, dress, food, religion, music and dance of the destination, the numerous museums in the city can be visited.

Museums like The National Museum of the Philippines and the Ayala Museum contain artefacts and remains that date from the earliest beginnings of life in the archipelago. Places like the Metropolitan Museum of Manila display the contemporary culture of the Filipino people, while the Bahay Tsinoy showcases the beliefs of the other cultures that inhabited the place.

One of the famous attractions of the place is the San Agustin Church that is a World Heritage Sight. Another famous attraction in the city is the Malacanang Palace, which was once the seat of power of the Spanish conquerors. Sightseeing attractions in Manila are popular with history enthusiasts to relive the era of World War II and its aftermath in Asia.

One can also find numerous parks and gardens in Manila. Rizal Park, the largest park in Asia saw the execution of the national hero of the country, Jose Rizal. Paco Park was declared a national park in 1966. The park was a cemetery till 1912.  

The wildlife of Manila can be viewed in the Manila Zoological and Botanical Gardens. At this park, one can view various forms of butterflies from around the world, along with the native fauna of Manila. These include water buffalo, the rare mouse deer, the Philippine crocodile and others. There are nearly 500 varied birds, 300 animals and 100 reptiles in their natural habitat in the park.