Fort San Pedro, Cebu City |Filipino Sojourner

Fort San Pedro is the smallest and oldest fort in the Philippines. This stone fort was established by the Spaniards using Cebuano laborers under the leadership of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi. Fort San Pedro is used by the Spaniard to repel the attacks of Moro pirates on Cebu. Because of this, the fort became the nucleus of the first Spanish settlement in Cebu City area.

Archeological records revealed that there is already a settlement present on the area before Fort San Pedro was established. At first, the fort was built of palisade wall made of wood, which is very much similar to the first forts established by Europeans when they are colonizing the Americas. During the American colonization, the fort became part of the Warwick Barracks, which is a garrison established by the American military. In 1917, it was turned over to the municipal government of Cebu which used the fort as the clubhouse of the Cebu Garden Club, Cebu City Zoo, and as government offices. It is declared as a national shrine and one of the well-visited spot in Cebu City.
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Fort San Pedro, Plaza Independencia, Cebu City

The fort as first established by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi.

The fort is made of stone walls just like in Intramuros. Unlike Intramuros, Fort San Pedro is smaller and triangular in shape. Two sides of the triangle are facing the sea while the third side is facing Cebu City. Cannons and guns were mounted on each wall so effectively destroy any enemies that are trying to capture it.

Attack at your own risk.

How to Go to Fort San Pedro

The easiest way to reach Fort San Pedro is by riding a taxi, which is plentiful in Cebu City. However, if you are already in the vicinity of the Magellan’s Cross Shrine or the Cebu Cathedral then I recommend that you walk. Just ask any locals, preferably the security guards, and tell them that you want to go to Fort San Pedro or the Plaza Independencia. Be warned that Plaza Indepencia is currently under renovation. The renovation may confuse you that you are going to some construction site while walking towards the fort.

Entance Fee

You pay here.

To enter Fort San Pedro, you have to pay Thirty (30) pesos per person. There is no time limit for staying inside Fort San Pedro. Just remember that littering is strictly prohibited inside the fort.

What to See Inside Fort San Pedro?

There is nothing much to see inside Fort San Pedro as compared to Intramuros. Before entering the fort proper, visitors can see the pictures hung on the walls at the entrance area. The pictures depicts the history of Cebu City, from the landing of Ferdinand Magellan until the Japanese Occupation. There are also images of what the fort looks like as the time goes by, from the simple palisade structure in the early Spanish period until the fully restored stone fort that is present now.

Other things to see inside the fort are the old guns that were used to defend the fort from its enemies. The guns are similar, but smaller, to those mounted on the wall of Intramuros.

The fort is also a good spot to look for the Spanish architecture during the height of its empire. The walls, the lay-out of the fort, and the design are planned by Spanish architects and mirror the architectural trend of the time.