Within Intramuros, ‘The Walled City’ lays the 15th century fortress that is Fort Santiago. It is arguably the city’s most historic attraction today. Jose Rizal was imprisoned and executed here.The fort was named after Saint James (Santiago in Spanish), the patron saint of Spain, who is also known as Saint James the Muslim-slayer because of the legend that he miraculously appeared hundreds of years after his death to fight in the battle of Clavijo, whose relief adorns the façade of the front gate.It is located at the mouth of the Pasig River and served as the premier defense fortress of the Spanish Government during their rule of the country. It became a main fort for the spice trade to the Americas and Europe for 333 years. The Manila Galleon trade to Acapulco, Mexico began from the Fuerte de Santiago.
The fort has a perimeter of 2,030 feet (620 m), and it is of a nearly triangular form.
