One of the oldest structures (and the most popular tourist destinations) in the city of Cebu is the Fort San Pedro. Fort San Pedro was a military fuerza or fort set up on the Eastern coast of Cebu City facing Mactan island. It was set up by the Spaniards led by Miguel Lopez de Legaspi some 40 years after Magellan, the failed circumnavigator of the world, met his untimely end in Mactan Island in 1521. (Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong, of course).
The iconic stone arch which leads visitors to the triangular fort. It is considered one of the most photographed structures in Cebu.
Fuerza de San Pedro or Fort San Pedro was built by the Spaniards but was later surrendered to Cebuano revolutionaries when the Americans won at the Battle of Manila Bay in 1898.
A short walk from the gate to the fort interior gives guests a quick glimpse at some of the structure’s historic documents and artifacts.
Entrance fee for adults is set at Php21. Children have to pay Php12.22.
This board at the entrance tunnels shows how Fort San Pedro looked like in the past.
Here is an artist’s depiction of the original fort whose walls were made of logs.
Here is an artist’s depiction of the famous Battle of Mactan.
This is the burning of a Zubu village upon the return of Spanish forces (this time with more men and weapons).
It was said that due to this incident, the image of the Sto. Nino, which was a gift to the queen, almost got burned. This explains the image’s dark complexion.
This image shows the Spaniards baptizing the natives of Cebu.
Here is a portrait of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, the man responsible for the successful colonization of the Philippines.
Portrait of Ferdinand Magellan, Lapu-Lapu’s foe during the Battle of Mactan.
Here is a depiction of the first procession with the image of the Sto. Nino.
View of the main stone structure from the inside of the fort gate.
The planned rehabilitation plan of Plaza Independencia and Fort San Pedro.
The rehabilitation will start as soon as the underpass/subway/tunnel project gets completed.
A few steps up to the viewing deck.
Gorgeous view up here. Perfect for pictorials.
See? My mom, the pictorial queen.
The ongoing subway construction at the Plaza Independencia.
View of the viewing tower at the top of the stone gate.
Here is a narrow flight of steps up to the watchtower!
The clearing in the middle of the fort served as a holding area during the war.
View of the fuerza from the watchtower
A National Museum can also be found within the fort.
No videocams and digicams, however, are allowed within the museum.
Several cannons facing the sea can be found on the second level of the fort.
Sitting right next to the fort is the Cebu Central Post Office.
And one block away is the Malacanan sa Sugbo.
A souvenir shop located on the ground floor of the fort sells native and locally-made products.
They also sell the world famous Cebu guitars.
Here is an exterior shot of the fort. This photo was taken in front of the Post Office.
The stone walls helped make the fort withstand all the firepower from the enemies.
Sidetrip: Malacañan sa Sugbo (The president’s home in Cebu)
Taking of pictures is allowed only for the front part of the building.
Have you been to Fort San Pedro? What do you think of the fort? Let us know your thoughts!
Wow! Fort San Pedro is much nicer nowadays. I can’t wait to visit the souvenir shop.=) The Post Office & the Cebu White House are nice buildings too.
My first time there was 2004, as mum can’t afford to pay the excursion during my H.S. days. That Malacanan sa Sugbo, is that the Custom House? WOW!!! Cebu is very clean. (except across the C.C. Post office) That new plan so good. But the souvenir shop there and in Mactan are in dollar value. Im shopping in the bargain place.
Nice to see your mum as your model, Ley. Is that singing blind man still there in Fort San Pedro?
When i was there his singing otso2 w/ 2 young girls dancing, soo cute. The Japanese guy is kuripot. Wla jud maghog maske P50 nalang.
Thanks Ley
the blind man is still there. minus the dancing girls. =)
ahhhh yeah, thanks Ley.
kumuzta sa ninyo diha sa Sugbu
ok ra man sad mi diri…. nanginabuhi hinayhinay. hehehe
but the metropolis is booming. development in every corner. yay! =)
“Entrance fee: Php21 for adults / Php12.22 for children”
^^gidaginut jud ang .22…lisud kaayo ni pangitaan ug sukli..ila na lng untang i round-off…say Php 12 or Php 13, haha
hahaha. i think murag tungod ni sa dollar conversion… =)
they should have removed that “caratola” in the facade. recent addition, isnt it? it looks so cheap and contrasting to the structure of fort san pedro. (my own personal opinion) hehehe.
nice nga gihatagan na jud og attention ang atung mga parks and heritage structures karon. the people should know how to take good care of these. kulang pa jud ang majority when it comes to awareness in preserving heritage.
Hi Leylander,
Sa akung na okserbahan sapag reseach sa atong Lugar dako na gyud ug kausaban,
So I will Promote to the Filipino People na nindot na gyud ang atong Lugar,kay daghan kaayong mga taga la-ing Lugar sa Pilipinas na wala pa maka- anha sa Cebu!!!! ug dili lang mga Pilipino labaw na gyod tong mga Foreigner, pina empress
ko sila , basta Cebu the Best!
From ;
Milette
hehehe. go go go milette! =)
bitaw! the best jud ang cebu, although dili pareha sa manila ka taas ang mga buildings yet very city life still and at the same time relaxing..
u knw some teenage couple visit d place 2 make out..hahaha.. actually i was der wid my bf..(date?!) nah..we just visited VISITED d place and..haha.. accidentally we saw a couple making out.d gurl sitting on d guy’s lap and voila! u knw what dat means.. i hope dey enjoyed it.. haha.. pretty sure some KALAGS kay nanlili.. kinsa kaha 2 cla noh?
daghan man jud mag-det2x dira inig gabii kay ngitngit. hahaha.
When I was in college, my best friends and I would bring cake and ice cream inside Fort San Pedro to celebrate each other’s birthday. Looking at these photos make reminisce those fun days. I’m very happy nga nadam-agan nako imong blog. I will be coming home next month – the first time after many years. I can’t wait to visit my yutang’ natawhan.
By the way, nag-tukod diay ug subway dinha? Dili na man gud ko up-to-date sa mga balita diha.
Yup, sa ilawom sa plaza muagi ang subway. thanks for dropping by. =). see you soon!
I love Fort San Pedro, I use to go there with friends or alone all the time after school. Whenever I had to go to the Post Office, I always stopped by the Fort. Thanks for allowing me to reminisce my happy teenage years..
buwisit wla b tagalog tagalog assignment q eh
wtf?
correct me f i’m wrong, FSP used to be the zoo. . .recalled seeing some animals in there 4 to 5 decades ago, before it was moved near or in beverly hills..
Right, the Cebu Zoo was maintained there by the late Fr. Tropa (not a priest)before it was relocated to Camp Marina, and then further on to Negros. The GI sheets which fenced the perimeter before the old walls did not make good image to the Fort.
The rounded structure is called the bastion. There is one actually at every corner with names given to each.
bitaw.. nindot man sd ng fort san pedro. daghan au magdate2 dha..hehehhehe I want to go back there soon…. hahay… wa na jud ko kalaag dah.
nindot bitaw ang fsp. i’ve been there once.
Long awaiting! Good to see Fort San Pedro and other buildings in the area being cared for. Back in ’02 we had our family photos taken in there. The pictures came out so beautifully that friends ask where we had it taken. It’s raw beauty is still a stunner!
I know this place, I have been there – picture in this blog was good – Helpful site http://www.cebucitytour.com
hope tings are ok lots of holaday maker,s comeing to the fort as the angel,s been and the orchids