Intramuros is situated on the southernmost bank of the Pasig River, was built by the Spaniards in the 16th century and is the oldest district of the city of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Its name, in Latin, intramuros, literally “within the walls”, meaning inside the wall enclosure of the city/fortress, also describes its structure as it is surrounded by thick, high walls & moats. Intramuros was completed in 1606 and it served as the center of political, military and religious power of the Spaniards during the time that the Philippines was a colony of Spain. Inside Intramuros there are some Roman Catholic churches, like the Manila Cathedral and the San Agustin Church, convents and church-run schools, such as the Universidad de Santo Tomás, the Colegio de San Juan de Letrán & the Ateneo Municipal de Manila, which were normally being run by religious orders such as the Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans & Jesuits. The Governor’s Palace, the official residence of the Spanish Viceroyalties to the Philippines was originally in Intramuros before it was officially proceeded to Malacañang Palace and Fort Santiago. Only Spaniards & mestizos were allowed to take part on political issues & take residence inside the walled city. Christian natives & Chinese were allowed to enter, but Spanish officials prevented them from living inside. During the pre-hispanic period, Intramuros was considered Manila itself.
Intramuros has a land area of 0.67 km2 (0.26 sq mi). It is the 5th district of Manila. Intramuros now houses some of the higher education institutions in the Philippines.
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