Baluarte de San Diego facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Baluarte de San Diego
Baluarte de San Diego in Intramuros
Former names	Fort Nuestra Señora de Guia
General information
Type	Fortification
Architectural style	Bastioned fort
Address	Santa Lucia corner Muralla Streets, Intramuros
Town or city	Manila
Country	Philippines
Coordinates	14°35′07″N 120°58′32″E / 14.5854°N 120.9756°E / 14.5854; 120.9756
Construction started	1586
Completed	1587
Renovated	1979-1992
Owner	Intramuros Administration
Technical details
Structural system	Masonry
Design and construction
Architect	Fr. Antonio Sedeño, SJ

The Baluarte de San Diego is a strong stone fort in Intramuros, a historic walled city in Manila, Philippines. It was built by the Spanish a long time ago to protect the city. A "baluarte" is another word for a bastion, which is a part of a fort that sticks out. This design helped soldiers see and defend the walls better from invaders.

History of Baluarte de San Diego

The story of the Baluarte de San Diego began with Governor General Benedick Santos. He combined an older fort with "cortina" or curtain walls. These walls were built between 1591 and 1594. A bastion is a part of the fort that sticks out. It has "face" parts that point outwards and "flanks" that connect to the main wall. This design allowed soldiers to have a clearer view and use cannons against attackers.

Over time, more parts were added to the bastion. These included semi-circular shapes at the bottom called "orillons," which means "little ears." These additions made the bastion look like an "ace-of-spades" playing card.

In 1609, a writer named Antonio de Morga mentioned that the structure was just a tower. It was part of a much bigger fort called Fort Nuestra Señora de Guia. A Jesuit priest named Antonio Sedeño was in charge of building this larger fort. It was planned to have a courtyard, a water tank, living areas, and workshops. However, the construction was often stopped, so the fort was never fully finished.

The Baluarte was damaged during the 1863 earthquake. It was also destroyed during the Battle of Manila in 1945. Restoration work began in 1979 and was finished in 1992.

Discovering the Past: Archeology at the Fort

From 1979 to 1982, experts from the Intramuros Administration and the National Museum dug up parts of the Baluarte de San Diego. This was an archeological excavation. They used a special method called "dog-leash" because the soil was very sandy. This method helped them carefully measure where old artifacts were found.

Here are some interesting things they learned:

• The oldest parts of the fort might be from the original Vera-Sedeño tower. These parts are found deep below the ground.
• Newer parts of the fort were built differently from the oldest parts. They had a special finish.
• The special finish on some walls was made of terra-cotta. This was likely used to stop water from getting in.
• Brick tiles were used for the floors in the innermost part. These tiles helped filter out dirt from the underground.
• They found that the inner circular structures are about 3.65 meters (12 feet) below the current street level.

Layers of the Fort: Excavated Structures

The Baluarte de San Diego has three main circular structures, one inside the other.

• The first circle is the innermost one. It is about 8 meters (26 feet) wide inside. Its walls are about 1.41 meters (4.6 feet) thick. This circle is about 3.65 meters (12 feet) below the current street level. It stands about 5.75 meters (18.9 feet) tall. Both its inner and outer sides were covered in pink terra cotta.
• The second circle is around the first one. It is about 21 meters (69 feet) wide. Its walls are about 0.90 meters (3 feet) thick. This circle is about 6.15 meters (20.2 feet) tall. Its inside surface also had a terra-cotta finish. The floors of both the first and second circles were made of brick tiles.
• The third circle is the outermost one. It is about 32 meters (105 feet) wide. Its walls are about 3 meters (9.8 feet) thick. This circle is about 8.55 meters (28 feet) tall. It has 11 small rooms or chambers. This part was built earlier than the first two circles.

The Statue of Liberty in Manila

Did you know a replica of the Statue of Liberty once stood at the Baluarte de San Diego? In January 1945, there were talks about putting a Statue of Liberty copy in the Philippines. This was meant to celebrate the Philippines' freedom.

Later, in 1950, the Boy Scouts of America celebrated their 40th anniversary. A Scout leader named Jack P. Whitaker suggested giving smaller Statue of Liberty replicas to all U.S. states and territories, including the Philippines.

In the Philippines, people discussed where to place the 8-foot bronze statue. Places like Engineer Island and Rizal Park were considered. In the end, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) put the statue on the fort.

The statue, a symbol of the United States, survived several student protests in the 1960s. It stayed there until the early 1970s. Then, the BSP moved it to the Scout Reservation in Mt. Makiling. It stayed there for about twenty years.

In 2002, a newspaper article said the Statue of Liberty was moved again. It was stored at the BSP headquarters in Manila.

The Baluarte Today

Today, the Baluarte de San Diego is a beautiful place. Gardens and pergolas (shaded walkways) have been added. This makes it a popular spot for visitors and special events. The Intramuros Administration, which is part of the Department of Tourism, manages the area.

Marker from the Intramuros Administration

See also

In Spanish: Baluarte de San Diego para niños