A Sojourn at Fort Santiago

by Pushpitha Wijesinghe

The capital of the Philippines Manila is a flourishing city situated on the eastern shores of Manila Bay. The nation's thriving economy has made Manila a prosperous city attracting a great number of visitors annually. Manila has more than 100 parks scattered across the city.

Fort Santiago has a history stretching back several centuries. Once the location of the palace of Rajah Suleiman, a Muslim chieftain, the site was then destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors. The Spaniards established the Fuerza de Santiago (Fort Santiago) in1571. This first fort, constructed from logs and earth, was destroyed in the Spanish-Chinese War by Chinese pirates. The Spaniards retaliated aggressively, driving the pirates out of the area. The fort was reconstructed in 1589 in hard stone and became the focal point of journeys and the spice trade to Europe and the Americas for a span of over three centuries.

In its present form the fort is protected by imposing walls 22 feet high and 8 feet thick, with an entrance 40 feet high. It was at one time the foremost defense fortress of the Spanish administration in the Philippines. In the midst of World War II the fort was captured by the Japanese, and suffered serious damage from mortar shells in the Battle of Manila in 1945. Notably the national hero of the Philippines Jose Rizal was imprisoned in the fort prior to his execution in 1896. Many other Filipino freedom fighters met the same fate.

The fort was repaired and refurbished in the 1980s. Today it serves as a museum displaying exhibits of the Spanish colonial era, and also houses a shrine to Jose Rizal. The fort's prison cells and dungeons are also worth a look, for the visitor to obtain a first hand glimpse of the conditions experienced by Jose Rizal and other prisoners.

If you plan to stay at a Manila hotel, there is no better choice than The Heritage Hotel Manila. The hotel with its contemporary design and 24 hour Casino Filipino is in proximity to the international airports, business centres and shopping malls. Fine dining is another feature of the hotel with a selection of options available.

About the author

Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.

Source:  http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=2277912