Plaza San Luis Complex is impossible not to notice when you pass by it in Intramuros - there are the men in guardia civil uniform stationed outside (two even smiled and posed gamely for my camera!), and the beautiful old houses, each with a unique design. Particularly eye-catching are the hanging yellow embellishments from the eaves of the blue-accented house across San Agustin Church. Every time I'm here, I inevitably find myself pausing and admiring the houses from outside, and sometimes going inside.
While it's already a visual feast outside, the inside holds another beautiful surprise - a courtyard with a fountain on the middle of the stone floor. And when you go up the stairs, you see the fountain from above, as well as the houses in the courtyard, and the red roofs of neighboring buildings. From that vantage point, I feel like I am transported into old Manila.
What makes each structure in Plaza San Luis beautiful and unique? Each one is actually a replica of different designs of houses during the Spanish regime, which explains the variety in design.
The complex houses establishments like a museum and the cultural restaurant Barbara's, so you can come in not just to admire old-world architecture, but also have a meal or learn more about our culture. read more