Which Asian capital contains the historic Intramuros district? Manila. Intramuros is the historic walled district within Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
The name comes from Spanish and means “within the walls.” Spanish authorities established the settlement in 1571 under Miguel López de Legazpi, building fortifications around the colonial administrative and religious center. For centuries, Intramuros was treated as Manila itself, while communities outside the walls were described as extramuros, or “outside the walls.”
The district contains major landmarks including Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral, and San Agustín Church. San Agustín is part of the UNESCO-listed Baroque Churches of the Philippines. Intramuros was heavily damaged during the Battle of Manila in 1945, but its walls and historic buildings have since been restored. It is administered by the Intramuros Administration and remains one of Manila’s best-known heritage areas.