Old Legislative Building, Art museum in Ermita, Manila, Philippines
The National Museum of Fine Arts sits in a neoclassical building on Padre Burgos Avenue with wide steps and a three-wing facade. The interior spans several floors with high ceilings and exhibition rooms arranged around a central courtyard.
The building was constructed between 1918 and 1926 as the Legislative Palace and served as the seat of Congress until the early 1970s. After heavy war damage in 1945, reconstruction took place in the 1950s with an expansion of the side wings.
The main hall displays Juan Luna's painting Spoliarium, presented in its own room with natural light. Visitors can walk through galleries showing centuries of Philippine art, from colonial portraits to modern works.
Admission is free daily except Mondays, but bags are checked at the entrance. Tours in Filipino or English are available without booking in advance and last about one hour.
The stairwell with its murals and marble steps remains nearly unchanged from the original construction phase. Many visitors overlook the smaller ground-floor halls with religious sculptures from Spanish times.
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