1. The name Intramuros means "inside the wall". Intramuros was originally built as a residence for Spanish government officials and their families. The most influential and wealthy citizens of Manila during the colonial era lived here. Indigenous peoples and Chinese were not allowed to live in Intramuros, only the Spanish elite and Mestizo.

2. The walls of Intramuros was designed to protect the city from foreign invasions. The walls were 20 feet high and 3 kilometers long, covering an area of about 160 acres. Access was only through seven fortified gates. Inside a huge wall, 51 blocks of the city contained churches, hospitals, government offices, military barracks, schools and Spanish elite homes.

3. The Spaniards began building Intramuros in 1521, on a strategically selected 0.67 square kilometer of land between Manila Bay and the Pasig River. Designed as a tight grid to keep the street functional yet unobtrusive. Its purpose is to become Spain's political and military foundation in Asia. Large administrative, religious and educational institutions thrived within Intramuros, allowing only the most powerful clans in the country (mainly Spanish) to settle.

4. Intramuros underwent dramatic changes during American rule, but eventually became rubble during the Battle of Manila at the end of World War II. Only the San Agustin Church survived and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site among the Baroque churches of the Philippines. After that, other landmarks and facilities were restored.