From San Agustin Church, we again boarded our calesa and made a stopover at the 3-storey, colonial lifestyle Casa Manila. This museum, built in 1981, is a faithful, beautifully-done reproduction of a typical mid-19th century Spanish bahay na bato residence of Binondo merchant Don Severino Mendoza that once stood along Calle de Jaboneros in San Nicolas, Binondo.

It has a façade of balconies and a overhanging wooden gallery, a beautiful inner courtyard and antique Philippine, Oriental and European furniture and furnishings. Designed by Arch. Jose Ramon Faustmann with interiors by Martin I. Tinio, Jr., it is a window to the opulent 19th century lifestyle of the gentry.

Though the house is just a reproduction, its exhibits aren’t.  No photography was allowed inside.  On display are antique 17th to the early 20th century jewelry, finely-crafted local, Chinese and European furniture and other items from the Intramuros Administration’s collection.  

Casa Manila: Plaza San Luis Complex, Gen. Luna cor. Real St., Intramuros, Manila.  Tel: (632) 527-4084. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 9 AM to 6 PM.  Admission: Php50 for children, students with valid ID and faculty members; and PhP75 for adults.