Monuments to visit Luzon

It's one of the capital's most famous historic sites. Construction of the fort began in 1571 and lasted over 150 years. From up there, you could observe every movement in Manila Bay. And as colonized Manila grew in importance and wealth through trade, so too did Fort Santiago, gradually becoming a wonderful showcase for Spanish success in this part of Asia. The fort was the scene of many painful events, as it was here that many soldiers perished, including the man who would become a true national hero, Dr. José Rizal. The revolutionary poet spent his last days here before being executed by the Spanish on December 30, 1896. Fort Santiago is also known as the Shrine of Freedom, named in 1950 in memory of the Filipino heroes imprisoned and killed here under Spanish and then Japanese rule. Partially rebuilt after the Second World War, it has become a symbol of Filipino revolt against the various occupiers, and a place for strolling for locals and visitors alike. Tables are available for picnics, and you can climb the remnants of the ramparts, which offer beautiful views over Manila. There's also an open-air theater, the Rajah Soliman Theater, in tribute to the Muslim leader of pre-colonial Manila, and the Rizal Museum. A must-see (especially for history buffs)!

Walking down Session Road, the liveliest street in the city center, you come across the public market, which stretches along Magsaysay Avenue. The market is a very popular, huge attraction with multiple, well-stocked sections. You can find everything from beautiful flowers and sampaguitas to cashews, roasted peanuts, jams, strawberries, clothes, tennis shoes, flip-flops. It is full of fresh fruits and vegetables from the farms of La Trinidad and Benguet. A must to feel the pulse of the city!

It is a replica of the house of Apolinario Mabini, one of the intellectual leaders of the Philippine Revolution of 1898. During the American occupation, this house became the intellectual headquarters of the First Philippine Republic. You can visit this replica made of bamboo and nipas, a typical middle class house during that period. In the adjacent museum, you will discover personal belongings and writings of Mabini.

Visit of the JEST school and observation of the demonstrations of basic survival according to indigenous traditions. Established thirty years ago, the Environmental Survival Training School is the first and only of its kind.

15 km from downtown, a prison without bars, like the one in Palawan, near Puerto Princesa, is open to visitors. The prisoners are given a piece of land that they cultivate as a family. Their handicraft activity allows them to work with wood and rattan. The products made are sold in the region. On the spot, it is possible to make hikes in the forest with a prisoner who is also a guide. An amazing experience that can go beyond simple curiosity and become a real encounter.

It was the headquarters of the Philippine government in exile of Manuel Quezon but also of General MacArthur. Completed in 1922, the main tunnel is 250 meters long and 7 meters wide, with twenty smaller tunnels attached to the left and right. It was later equipped to serve as an underground war hospital, with over 1,000 beds. Cannons and other installations as well as military equipment are on display to the public. Night tours are possible, and there are occasional sound and light shows.

The town is famous for its 300-year-old church and its Augustinian fort Santa Isabel, built by the Spanish in 1667, completed in 1738 and transformed into a military post during the American occupation. It contains a small chapel, an intact cannon and a beautiful garden. The church is a three-minute walk from the fort. Beautiful panorama on the port, the city, the letters "TAYTAY" which remind those of Hollywood (same dimensions, by the way!). Superb at sunset.