Manila City Hall is one of the main landmarks of the Philippine capital. The building with its hexagonal tower with three faced dials on its facades received many unfavourable comments in its early years due to its ascetic architectural design, lack of entrances and the placement of a clock tower. The original layout of the building was rejected because its shape resembled a coffin or, in another version, the shield of the Knights Templar Order. Interestingly, today most critics praise the design of City Hall, which once caused so many censures.
The building is located in the centre of Manila's tourist quarter, which also houses the main government offices and other city attractions. To the south of City Hall are the National Museum, the Museum of the Philippine People and the Department of Tourism. Not far away is Rizal Park, the largest city park in the country. And very close by, the walls of Manila's ancient historic district, Intramuros, rise up.
The clock tower of City Hall has become a kind of symbol of Manila. At night, it is illuminated by floodlights and exterior lighting and becomes visible from many parts of the city. Every hour, the bell rings three times and then a melody is played. Today, the Clock Tower is considered the largest in the Philippines.
City Hall houses the offices of government agencies and the Manila administration. Public access is open from Monday to Friday.
