Baluarte de San Diego - Manila

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

Baluarte de San Diego

Baluarte de San Diego details

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

Baluarte de San Diego - Intramuros, Manila

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 watchtower 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 Baluarte de San Diego

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 built 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 is 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.

*check out my blog Visita Iglesia: Dasmariñas Church if you want to know the story of the church.

Team Nicerio visits Baluarte de San Diego

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. 

Team Nicerio visits Baluarte de San Diego

Got a chance to go to the middle of it!

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

Baluarte de San Diego Admission Fee

You need to pay 75 pesos per person to enter the vicinity of Baluarte de San Diego.

Baluarte de San Diego Operating Hours

Baluarte de San Diego is open from 8AM - 5PM every day. 

Why visit Baluarte de San Diego?

Baluarte de San Diego is one of the must-visit tourist destinations inside the walled city of Intramuros. Although there is nothing much to do here, the place is an amazing backdrop to your prenuptial photoshoots. It's also a perfect place to tie the knot... speaking of which... (please scroll down to the bottom part of this article)

Getting to Baluarte de San Diego:

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.

Here's the basic fare:

jeepney fare: P8-10
taxi fare: P100-300 depending on where you are in Manila
tricycle fare: P50-80
horse-drawn carriages: P100-200


Guess what? 

I married my wife in this historical landmark. Check out the pictures below. 

Officially TEAM NICERIO 💗💗💗

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