Casa Manila in Intramuros of Manila

Written by Martin A. Reinert

Manila Tourist Attractions - Historic Tourist Attractions of Manila

When you look at Manila today, you will be awed by how much progress it has achieved since the olden times. But there is a place in modern Manila that still retains its original and rich culture, and that is Intramuros.

 
Intramuros was actually the capital and the center of almost all major activities during the Philippine-Spanish times. That is why the Philippine government decided to preserve the community within the walled city of Intramuros to make it one of the major tourist attractions in the Philippines.

There is a place inside Intramuros that will give you a better picture, help you understand what it was like then and give you a deeper experience of Manila during the Spanish colonial era and that is the Casa Manila Museum.

Bringing yourself to Casa Manila is very easy. You have 3 transportation options to choose from: Taxi, Jeepney or LRT. Taking a taxi is the easiest among the three because Casa Manila is a famous place and taxi drivers are used to bringing tourists here everyday. For a more adventurous trip, you can take the jeepney or LRT. Jeepneys coming from Roxas Boulevard or Taft Avenue always pass by the area of Intramuros. If you want to take the LRT, you go down at the Central Terminal Station and take a jeepney going to Intramuros.

Casa Manila was destroyed during the Second World War and stepping into its massive stone walls and cold stone flooring is like stepping back into time. The structure in itself gives you that “feel” of living in a Filipino house or residence way back in the 19^th century. This Spanish colonial home was rebuilt by the former first lady Imelda Marcos during the 1980’s to help Filipinos appreciate their heritage and to assist tourists to better understand the history and development of the Philippine culture.

Upon entering the museum, you will immediately notice the Spanish architecture and fixtures all over the place. A friendly and welcoming tourist guide will greet you at the entrance and will help show you around Casa Manila. But you can also choose to roam around by yourself. This is permitted as long as you make sure that you do not touch anything especially items that look very fragile and valuable. They practice a “Look But No Touch” policy in the museum.

If you choose to join the Casa Manila tour, the attending guide will lead you first to the courtyard for a more intense appreciation of the outdoor structures and fountains.  You will then be led to the main receiving area which is actually the perfect replica of what a working office looked like during the Spanish times. After which the guide will bring you to the second floor of Casa Manila where you will see the rooms, the living area, the master’s bedroom and the kitchen. As you enter each room, you will witness different kinds of Spanish design during that time, from the antique furniture, crystal chandeliers, oil paintings and classic vases, not to mention the authentic kitchen utensils which are always the main attraction especially for tourists visiting the museum.

After experiencing Casa Manila indoors, it is always fun and relaxing to end your tour back to the courtyard and enjoy a glass of cold iced tea or a cup of hot coffee by the fountain and feel how life was like during the 19^th century.