University of Santo Tomas

The University of Santo Tomas was founded by the Dominicans in 1611, which makes it the oldest existing university in Asia and older than any in the United States. It moved from Intramuros to its present Sampaloc campus in the 1920s, and the buildings from that move are what visitors come to see: the Main Building, an enormous 1927 structure that was among the first earthquake-resistant buildings in the country and served as an internment camp for Allied civilians during the Japanese occupation, the Arch of the Centuries at the España gate, assembled from the old Intramuros portal, and the Central Seminary and Santísimo Rosario church. The UST Museum of Arts and Sciences, one of the oldest museums in the Philippines, holds natural history collections, ethnographic material and Philippine art. The campus is a working university with security at the gates, so casual wandering is limited and visits are best made with a purpose - the museum, an event, or a booked tour.

What you actually see

• The Arch of the Centuries - the old Intramuros gate at España.
• The Main Building - the 1927 block and its wartime history.
• The UST Museum - natural history, ethnography and art.
• The campus church - Santísimo Rosario and the seminary.

When to go

Term time to see the campus in use; the university is quiet during breaks. The museum keeps limited hours - check before going.

Honest expectations

This is a functioning university with controlled access - visitors register and roaming is restricted. Museum admission is separate and hours are limited. Traffic on España is heavy.

Nearby

Quiapo Church and the Manila Metropolitan Theater are south; Intramuros is beyond.