Located in the southern tip of the walled city of Intramuros in the Capital city of Manila. Baluarte de San Diego is part of the old Spanish Fort Nuestra Señora de Guia.

 Baluarte de San Diego

 For those who don’t know the history of Intramuros, allow me to give you a little bit of history lesson. (Since I’m a history teacher and that’s my job.)

 Outside the gate of Baluarte de San

It all began when the Chinese pirates led by Limahong raided the then wooden Spanish fort of Intramuros in 1574. The need for stronger defense became an urgent priority for the Spanish. According to Governor General Santiago de Vera, a stone fort with a watch tower would best serve the purpose. He assigned a Jesuit friar named Antonio Sedeño to oversee the project because of his knowledge of military architecture.

 The gardens and the fort

The stone fort was to be three tiers of circular walls, with the outer tier 28 feet high, 12 feet thick at the bottom, and 4 feet thick at the top. This fort is named Fort Nuestra Señora de guia. the fort was buit from 1586 to 1587, however the fort has one major flaw. Like the tower of Babylon the fort’s tower  threatened to collapse as it got higher.

 This place is also a good venue for weddings.

With the appointment of Gov. Gen. Gomez Perez Dasmariñas (wherein the town of Dasmariñas and its church was named.*) in 1590. Intramuros a major “upgrade”. All the wooden segments of Intramuros were reconstructed in stone. In 1593, the upper portion of the tower was demolished leaving behind the lower segment which was integrated into the new stone bulwark. It would be called Baluarte de San Diego. Shaped like an ace of spades, the new baluarte was completed sometime between 1653 to 1663.

 Posing in the garden

Baluarte de San Diego was breached by the British forces in 1762. When the Spanish recaptured the baluarte, it was restored and strengthened. However, the earthquake of 1863 damaged its structure, forcing the Spanish to abandon it. The baluarte received further damage during the Battle of Manila in 1945.

Baluarte de San Diego was restored in 1992 and is managed by the Intramuros Administration.

Getting there:

Baluarte de San Diego is located in the city of Manila. You could reach it by riding any of the following; jeepney, taxi, and even horse drawn carriages.

jeepney fare: P8-10

taxi fare: P60-100

tricycle fare: P50-80

horse drawn carriages: P100-200

Guess what?

I married my wife in this historical landmark.