Ayuntamiento Building, Manila

Ayuntamiento de Manila is often referred to as the Marble Palace due to its reconstructed exterior. The Ayuntamiento is home to the Bureau of the Treasury and is open for public tours. It is notable for having undergone many iterations from its original construction to present day.

The Ayuntamiento was originally constructed from 1599 through 1607, but a number of disasters caused rebuilding and reconstruction over the years. The first building was severely damaged by an earthquake. It was rebuilt in 1738 in an ornate, Baroque style. That building was also destroyed by an earthquake in 1863.

The third Ayuntamiento was completed in 1884. This was once again destroyed. The Battle of Manila in 1945 left nothing behind except for the outer walls.

Construction took place on the present-day Ayuntamiento from 2009 through 2013. It was rebuilt in the Neoclassical architectural style with careful consideration to stay as true to the most recent iteration of the building as possible.

Visitors who wish to tour the interior of the Ayuntamiento de Manila must schedule a tour on either Tuesdays or Fridays. Walking around the perimeter of the Ayuntamiento is an excellent alternative as it is near a number of beautiful and historic sites in Manila.