Joanna James
There are many good reasons to visit the captivating city of Manila in the Philippines, such as to experience the Spanish heritage, enjoy the art scene, savour the delectable food and explore Chinatown.
Culture lovers will be enthralled by Manila's well-preserved Spanish heritage. The Spaniards ruled the Philippines for three centuries and their culture has left a strong impact on the nation. Visitors to Manila will have the opportunity to experience landmarks, historic buildings, museums and many other features in the city that reflect the Spanish heritage, all of which have been conserved by the authorities. For an authentic insight into the Spanish era colonial history, you should visit the Intramuros walled city; within this locality, you can head to attractions like the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church and Fort Santiago.
Art enthusiasts will be entranced by Manila's remarkable art scene. In this city, you will find plenty of art galleries as well as museums that will draw the interest of the art lover. In Manila, you will be able to view paintings of contemporary landscapes, exhibitions focusing on emerging artists, artworks created by National Artists, art platforms established by individuals as well as non-governmental organisations and more. Additionally, you will encounter interesting examples of street art at many locations in the city including on street walls, beneath bridges and within walkways.
If your sightseeing exertions in Manila have given you an appetite, there is no need to worry as there are an array of appealing food choices in the city. Within this metropolis, visitors will find upscale fine dining restaurants, food stalls known as "carinderia", shops selling fast foods and food carts offering a selection of Filipino delicacies. Make sure to try out the pork or chicken adobo in which the meat will have been marinated with a combination of vinegar and soy sauce. You will also be delighted by specialities like sinigang (a sour stew of meat), balut (street food containing duck embryos) and halo-halo, a popular dessert.
Chinatown will be a must-visit attraction in Manila. Interestingly it is considered to be the oldest Chinatown on the globe. Commonly known as Binondo, this part of the city was initially founded for immigrants from China who had converted to Catholicism. Today, Chinatown is a popular attraction due to the shopping bargains and genuine Chinese food that it features. In fact, you will find a range of dining options in Chinatown, including cheap meals, affordable eateries and family-run restaurants. A choice of accommodation to consider from which you could easily visit Chinatown would be Citadines Bay City Manila where you may stay at a pleasingly located furnished apartment in Manila.
Manila is renowned for its remarkable shopping opportunities which include malls, outlets selling fashion apparel, stalls known as "tiangge" which offer bargains and stores selling second-hand (but still in fine condition) clothing called ukay-ukay. These shopping attractions are located in many different parts of the city. You will find the biggest malls in the Philippines within Manila, including the well-known SM Mall of Asia. For ukay-ukay stores and bargain stalls, the locality of choice would be Divisoria, a quarter that is famed for its inexpensive goods.
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