Manila is now a metropolis of ten million visitors shows that the accused normal social contrasts in Southeast Asia: the luxury despampanantes crossed each other with the deepest of troubles.
Spanish conquistadors knew what they were when they decided to place this side of the island of Luzon in the new capital to govern the islands until 1821 the Spanish monarchs. Manila overlooks the homonymous bay, stretching over 2000 m2 and it draws a magnificent natural bay, the scene of numerous historic. Not surprisingly, the Philippine Islands were coveted by all possible colonizers was never under control and when not influenced by the United States after World War II.

Manila expands in an urban area of 635 km2 which includes within it a number of cities: Pasay, Makati and Mandaluyong in the south, San Juan and Quezon City to Caloocan in the east and north. Besides these people, Manila is divided into 14 boroughs.

The vast expanse of Manila favors the existence of countless different realities within the same city. Thus we find in the Binondo district of the Chinese metropolis while in the areas of Ermita and Malate, along the bay, we will find the main tourist area, full of big hotels, restaurants and nightclubs. Sampaloc is located in the area of education, mainly composed of private universities, and in Santa Mesa is located in the Malacañang presidential palace. The important financial center of Makati in Manila is a luxurious residential district provided.
 

Little remains of Intramuros, the old Spanish city was built by Legazpi. Fires and earthquakes destroyed regularly, and despite ever again emerge from the ashes, failed to recover fully their ultimate devastation during World War II. This area has special interest is the church of San Agustín, built in the sixteenth century by Juan Macías.
Opposite the church is Casa Manila, playing a Spanish colonial home of the nineteenth century to know the lifestyles of the Spaniards who lived in this area. Another of the few preserved remnants of the old city is the fort of Santiago, named in honor of Santiago Matamoros and that is that, when the Spaniards arrived in the Philippines after having finished with Al-Andalus, they found that, across the I too was Muslim world!.

The fort was used throughout history by Spanish, British and Japanese. During World War II the Japanese army in what became a place of bitter memory, because it provided a framework for the torture and executions violated thousands of people by the Japanese military police. After the reconstruction of the fort in 1950, would become a park and the place was declared a Shrine of Liberty.
To end the visit to the historic Manila is advisable to visit the shrine of José Rizal, national hero who fought against the Spanish occupation and was executed on November 30, 1896. In his honor stands an imposing statue that presides over the Rizal Park, where we find a Chinese and a Japanese garden that are well worth a stroll.

An area of local color is brindle market Quiapo, located in the neighborhood where the population traditionally sits china. In their jobs can literally find anything and still maintains the tradition of haggling.

The offer of the city museum is vast and varied, but should highlight the Metropolitan Museum, which displays an impressive collection of prehistoric art, and the National Museum, where they can be part of a Spanish galleon sunk in the bay of the city.

Perhaps at this stage of the visit, the day is starting to decline and it is advisable to seek a suitable place to dine. There are several options at this point recommend:

Fitted with a dinner at the seafood market Parañaque, buying fresh produce and bringing oneself to cook some of the many restaurants or visit the pontoons supporting the Spectacular Harbor View, at the end of South Boulevard. Hundreds of colored bulbs illuminate our meal while enjoying the sea breeze and the attention of waiters played with a handkerchief style Sandokan.

His trip here waiting for this!