A further five-minute walk down General Luna Street in the same direction; after two blocks, turn right and walk down Calle Real until you reach Puerta de Sta. Lucia.

Facing Malecon Drive, Puerta de Santa Lucia is one of several gates passing through the Intramuros walls. First built in 1603, Puerta de Santa Lucia leads directly to Malecon Drive, a popular promenade ground, through a restored cobblestone bridge.

Passersby get a close-up look at the thick stone walls and moats that skirt Intramuros' borders. Once upon a time, Intramuros was Manila - no one could enter but the Spanish, their servants, and mestizos (half-Spanish Filipinos). Outside Manila lived Filipinos and Chinese merchants. The latter were forced to live in a ghetto that was conveniently located within range of Intramuros' cannons, in case the Chinese revolted against Spanish rule.

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Labels: Intramuros, Walking

# posted by Aom-ing : 6:19 AM