Fort Santiago, a truly historic monument | Well Known Places

Fort Santiago, a truly historic monument

Manila’s Fort Santiago is synonymous with the more tragic aspects of the history of the Philippines. For nearly three centuries the fortress represented the strength and power of the Spanish colonizers. Briefly occupied by the British from 1762-1764 it was held by the United States until Japanese occupation during World War II.
 
Initially Fort Santiago was constructed of logs and earth but after the destruction of this structure the fort was rebuilt in more robust fashion in hard stone. Fort Santiago features walls 22 m high and 8 m thick. The fort functioned as a trading centre, particularly with regard to the spice trade with Europe.
 
Today the fort has been converted into a museum that depicts the legacy of Spanish rule. Of particular interest is the Rizal Shrine dedicated to the memory of the Philippines’ national hero Jose Rizal. Rizal was a multi-talented intellectual, artist, academic, scientist and surgeon but he is well known to also have been an ardent nationalist, expressing the sufferings of the Filipinos under Spanish rule in his written works. He was imprisoned by the Spanish at Fort Santiago and executed by firing squad at the age of 35. Many other Filipinos were incarcerated in the dungeons of the fort, many of them drowning with the high tide since the dungeons were located below the high water mark.
 
The visitor to Fort Santiago will encounter a large courtyard with a beautiful garden. The centre of the courtyard features palm trees and a spring of water, and with the surrounding ruins, old cannons and guns in the background it seems to transport the visitor to an older, less complicated time. Also on display are the various war machines that were used in World War II.
 
Upon crossing the moat the visitor encounters an exquisite garden, reputed to be one of the prettiest in Manila, which affords a panoramic view over the Pasig River. The Rizal Shrine is located here. In a corner you will also see a memorial dedicated to the remains of 600 persons who were buried in a mass grave by the Japanese.
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