Casa Manila is a Spanish-style house museum located in Intramuros, Manila, Philippines. It was built in 1981 by the order of Imelda Marcos, the former first lady of the country, to recreate the living conditions of the upper class Filipinos during the Spanish colonial era, especially in the late 19th century.
The building of Casa Manila was designed by Filipino architect José Ma. Zaragoza, who was inspired by the “House of Don Severino Mendoza” in Biñan, Laguna. The building is a “bahay na bato”, a half-timbered, half-stone house, a traditional Philippine architecture influenced by Spain. It is characterized by the lower floor made of cement or stone and the upper floor made of wood, with wooden louver windows and shell glass (capiz windows).
The museum is decorated with antique furniture from the colonial era, such as carved wooden beds, cabinets, tables, tableware, silverware, paintings and home decorations that reflect the luxury and lifestyle of the “Ilustrado” or upper-middle class Filipinos at that time. They often had connections to the Spanish government or were wealthy from trade.
Casa Manila is located in the Plaza San Luis Complex, a collection of restored and rebuilt historic buildings to promote the preservation of traditional culture and tourism. Casa Manila is one of the major examples of the Intramuros Revival Project, carried out by the Intramuros Administration.
A visit to Casa Manila offers a journey back in time to the colonial era. Visitors will learn about the lifestyle, family relationships, the role of domestic servants, and the traditional banquets of the Filipino upper class.
Although it is a reconstruction of a later building, Casa Manila is valuable for preserving the culture, architecture, and understanding of Philippine history, especially the period when Spain had a great influence on the country’s politics, religion, language, and social structure.
Today, Casa Manila is a major tourist attraction in Manila, visited by both local and international tourists. It has also been the setting for many period TV shows, documentaries, and dramas. It is an important destination for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural roots of the Filipino people during the colonial era.
