Route: Walled City of Manila circumnavigation — Intramuros (Philippines)

The Walled City of Manila circumnavigation — Intramuros is a 2.02 mile run circumnavigating the historic capital walls. The looped course begins and ends with a hand on the historic Fort Santiago gate and continues clockwise down General Luna St, Soriano Ave, Muralla St. and Lucia St, alongside the inner perimeter of the old walled city.

Since the 1571 establishment of walled fortifications by Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, Manila’s Intramuros (literally “inside the walls”) became the central command post and cultural center for the Spanish East Indies. Spain’s empire-wide strategy was directed inside the walls, including: globe-spanning military campaigns, diplomatic missions, and commercial expansion linking the Silk Road, Spice Route, and Silver Trade. Early Catholic proselytizing missions to convert Filipino and Asia Pacific natives were directed within the walls. Asia’s oldest university, Santo Tomas, was founded inside Intramuros in 1611.

Manila became renowned for its colonial architecture and military fortifications and it all began at Intramuros before propagating out. Regrettably, much of Intramuros was leveled in February 1945 during the Battle of Manila where combined American and Filipino forces defeated the Imperial Japanese Army, but at great cost in blood, treasure, and history.

The Walled City of Manila circumnavigation — Intramuros honors the incredible cultural heritage and the resilience of the Filipino people.