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Palace of Fort Santiago from the Park, Intramuros, Manila – panoramio.jpg Photo by André Héroux –

Top 10 Intriguing Facts About Fort Santiago

It was built in 1571, it is a citadel built by Spanish navigator and governor Miguel Lopez de Legazpi for the newly established city of Manila in the Philippines. The defense fortress is located in Intramuros, the famous walled city of Manila.

The site is known for having witnessed many historical events of the Philippines.

The fort is one of the most important historical sites in Manila. Several lives were lost in its prisons during the Spanish Empire and World War II. The Rizal shrine museum displays memorabilia of the hero in its collection.

The fort features embedded onto the ground in bronze, the footprints represent his final walk in his cell.

The fort is only a few meters away from the Manila Cathedral and the Governor’s Palace which is currently the office of the commission on elections.

The fort is open for visitors and is the main tourist attraction, the visit is a good 30- 45 minutes. The entrance fee is accommodating to everyone who wants to g to the fort. 

The age limit for visitors is between 18 to 65 years old and are the only ones allowed to visit the open site.

1. The Fort’s Backstory

Fort santiago 1,intramuros.jpg Photo by Leoviernes1 –

The fort is named after Saint James who was the patron saint of Spain. He is also known as Saint James the Muslim slayer because of the legend that he miraculously appeared hundreds of years after his death. 

It is located at the mouth of the Pasig river and served as the premier defense fortress of the Spanish government. It became the main fort for the spice trade to America and Europe. 

2. The Fort’s Profile

Fort Santiago, Intramuros (F. Achilli pic) – Flickr.jpg Photo by Fabio Achilli –

The fort has a perimeter of 2,030 feet and it nearly has a triangular form. A moat connected with the river separates the fort from the city.

The north face has a cavalier called Santa Barbara which was built with three faces of batteries; one looking seaward over the anchorage place, one facing the entrance, and the third looking upon the river.

Inside the fort were guard stations together with the barracks of the troops of the garrison and quarters of the warden and his subalterns. Inside the fort were various storehouses, a chapel the powder magazine, and sentry towers.

3. The History Of The Fort

Dungeon of Fort Santiago.jpg Photo by Bobbet21 –

The location of the fort was once the site of a palisaded fort, armed with bronze guns. The fort was destroyed by Mater-of-camp Martin de Goiti when he fought several battles with Muslim natives,

The Spaniards started building Fort Santiago after the establishment of the city of Manila under Spanish rule. During the construction, Manila has named the capital of the newly colonized islands.

The first fort was a structure of palm logs and earth, most of it was destroyed when the city was invaded by Chinese pirates. The construction of Fort Santiago with hard stone and fortified walls of Intramuros.

Construction began in 1590 and finished in 1593 during the reign of Gomex Prez Dasmarinas. The stones were volcanic tuff quarried from Guadalupe, the fort as Dasmarinas left it consisted of a castellated structure without towers.

There are arches supported by an open gun platform above they were named the battery of Santa Barbara. These arches formed castmates with afforded a lower tier of fire through embrasures.

4. British Occupation

In 762, British forces invaded and captured Manila along with it Fort Santiago. During this time the fort served as a base of operations for the Royal Navy until 1764.

5. American Rule 

On August 13, 1898, the American flag was raised in Fort Santiago signifying the American rule in the Philippines. Fort Santiago served as the headquarters for the U.S. Army.

Due to the new rule, there were multiple changes to the fort. One of these changes included the draining of the moats surrounding the fort. To show the classic American style, the grounds were transformed into a golf course.

6. Captured By The Japanese Army

The Gate of Fort Santiago (17107690389).jpg Photo by Jorge Láscar –

During World War II, the fort was captured by the Japanese Imperial Army and it was used for prisons and dungeons. The storage cells and gunpowder magazines were also used to capture the hundreds of prisoners who were killed near the end of the war.

The fort sustained heavy damage from American and Filipino military mortar shells during the Battle of Manila on February 1945. 600 American prisoners were kept in the dungeons at Fort Santiago.

7. Preservation Of The Fort

FortSantiagoManila.jpg Photo by Shoestring at wts wikivoyage –

The fort, its bastions, and the prison dungeons are now part of a historical park. The park houses well-preserved legacies from the Spanish Colonial Period.

The historical landmark makes certain areas ideal for open-air theater, picnics, and promenades. 

After its destruction, Fort Santiago has declared a Shrine of Freedom in 1950. Its restoration by the Philippine government, the work did not begin until 1953 under the hands of the National Parks Development Committee.

The Intramuros Administration now manages the reconstruction, maintenance, and management of the fort since 1992.

8. The Fort’s Fame

The fort is remembered for being the headquarters of the armies of several foreign powers in Philippines history. This includes the Spanish, British, Americans, and Japanese.

The museum also offers pictures of how the fort looked in different moments like the fort in 1913, the fort gate before it was reconstructed and restored, and pictures of the fort in 2020.

9. The Famous Shrine of Rizal

Inside the walled city stands a tall shrine of Rizal on a large grassy area surrounded by Philippines flags. The barracks where Rizal was confined while he awaited the trail were destroyed.

The shrine is also considered to be a replica of his ancestral house in Laguna province.

The reconstruction of the building turned the place into a museum that celebrates his life and his addition to the community.

10. Architectural Style Of The Fort

The fort was designed by Baluarte de San Diego. It is one of his most famous works that is still recognized.

The architectural style used for the fort was the Italian- Spanish school of Fortification. It was designed as a trapezoidal layout which was on a wedge formed by the sea.

Communication with the river and the sea was by an obscure postern gate.