If Manila has Intramuros and Zamboanga City has Fort Pilar, then Cebu City has Fort San Pedro, ordered built by Miguel López de Legazpi in 1565 and only finished in 1738. The fort lays claim to being the “oldest, smallest and well preserved colonial fort” in the Philippines and its name was taken from Legazpi’s flag ship San Pedro.

Photo by Javier Ramírez (PD)

Looking from above, Fuerza San Pedro is actually a triangular fort with abutments at each corner (supposedly named San Miguel, Ignacio de Loyola, and La Concepcion from north clockwise). Immediately to the west is Plaza Independencia, which is equivalent to Manila’s Rizal Park. The fort actually looks quite boring—Fort Pilar looks much better from above. But if you’re interested in Spanish era architecture and history, you should visit Fort San Pedro, which now functions as a museum.

Want to learn more? Here’s an in-depth article with pictures from the Cebu Network website.

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