Description of the attraction
The St. Augustine Museum is located in the ancient Manila district of Intramuros. It is part of the Church of St. Augustine, which in turn is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built between 1587 and 1604, the church is one of the oldest active churches in Manila.
The St. Augustine Museum is in the shape of a square with a huge courtyard. The building itself consists of two floors with 4 halls and corridors along the entire length of the building. It should be noted that photography is prohibited inside the museum.
In the Sala De La Capitulacion hall you can see ancient church artifacts and figurines. It was in this room that the terms of surrender and the transfer of control over the Philippines from the Spaniards to the Americans at the end of the 19th century were drawn up. The museum's sacristy houses statuettes and paintings from the 17th century, including a golden altar made in 1650. The crypt impresses with its skillfully crafted ceiling with Aztec frescoes.
Climbing up the ancient staircase made of Chinese granite, you can find yourself in the St. Paul's Hall, where there is a reduced copy of the church and museum. The Hall of St. Augustine displays paintings and photographs depicting churches built by Augustinian monks in the Philippines. The Porcelain Room houses a collection of Chinese porcelain. Next to the museum is the garden of Father Blanco - he was an amateur botanist, he studied plants, his special passion was medicinal plants. In 1883, he even wrote and published the book Flora of the Philippine Islands.
The Church and Museum of St. Augustine today remain true guardians of the past, witnesses to the rich history of the Philippines and the amazing culture of the Philippine people.
