In 1945 following the liberation of Manila during the Second World War, the US Army discovered 600 decomposing corpses inside the Fort Santiago dungeons. The conditions were so cramped that all prisoners died from suffocation and heat exhaustion. The bodies were subsequently buried en masse on a site near the dungeons which is now marked by a white marble cross.

The dungeon inside Fort Santiago is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. Please note that ticket booth is open from 8 am to 9 pm while Fort Santiago grounds will be open until 11 pm.

Please be reminded of the rules when entering the dungeon. This area is part of the Fort Santiago grounds and declared “Shrine of Freedom.”

We request the public to respect the space.

Please be informed that the dungeon is open daily from 10 am to 10 pm. Please note that the ticket booth is open from 8 am to 9 pm while the Fort Santiago grounds is open until 11 pm.

Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy your visit to the Walled City!