Estate Living Magazine Precinct Living - Issue 33 | Page 63

Spanish’ residents (their Filipino servants) out. A nightly curfew
ensured the local workers left before the city gates closed.
The old city was guarded by Fort Santiago, a Spanish military
fortress that imprisoned many Filipinos and Americans during
the Spanish colonial period and World War II, but today it’s a
great place to relax, visit the memorial museum and consider the
Philippines’ colonial past. Another place of interest is the Church
of San Agustin with its hand-carved wooden pews, an 18th-
century pipe organ and a beautiful trompe l’oeil ceiling. With
some luck you may catch the local choir practising, or perhaps
even a traditional wedding.
A stroll through the streets of Intramuros takes you past fast-food
outlets, local eateries and food stalls with ube (purple yum, or
rather yam) ice cream, ube cakes on a hot griddle, fried bananas
on sticks and mounds of peanuts on trays. Ramshackle buildings
adorned with political posters and peeling paint heave under
the weight of power cables and crimson bougainvillea. Get a
close-up look at the thick stone walls and surrounding moats,
and climb the steps for a commanding view of the streets within
Intramuros and Metro Manila – the sprawling area beyond the
wall. www.experiencephilippines.org
STONE TOWN – ZANZIBAR
From narrow alleys, markets and mosques to freshly roasted
coffee, spiced tea and fragrant curries, Stone Town is a delight to
the senses. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the historic part
of what is now the island’s capital, Zanzibar City. A melting pot
of Arab, Indian, European and African cultures and traditions,
it dates back centuries to a time when trade was in Chinese
silks, spices, ivory and gold, to when Vasco de Gama brought
European influences to the area, and when the Sultanate of
Oman took control. During this time the slave trade flourished,
until its (theoretical) abolition in 1873. Unfortunately, though, the
trade went ‘underground’ for many more decades.
Start with a visit to the Old Fort, Palace Museum and House of
Wonders for a sense of history, the Anglican Cathedral of Christ
Church and the nearby memorial sculpture to get a grip on the
atrocity of the slave trade, and then lighten up by filling your belly
with traditional Zanzibar cuisine at the Forodhani Gardens Food
Market. Wander through the maze of narrow alleyways and peek
through the open doorways of old Arab mansions, immerse
yourself in the sights, sounds and smells at the Darajani Markets
– fresh fish, neatly stacked fruit and veggies, fabulous spices and
freshly baked bread – and finish the day with sundowners on a
rooftop terrace. www.zanzibartourism.go.tz
NAPLES – ITALY
Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in the
world, dating back to the first Greek settlements in the 2nd
millennium BCE, so it’s quite fitting that its historic city centre is
the largest in Europe. From narrow alleyways and cobblestone
streets, Baroque palazzi and historic churches to piazzas, palaces
and subterranean structures, this UNESCO World Heritage Site
is a must for the history buff’s bucket list. Neapolitan cuisine is
synonymous with pizza, with other favourites being Neapolitan
rajù (pasta with meat sauce), fogliatelle (a flaky pastry) and,
of course, gelato. If you want more than pizza, there are five
Michelin-starred restaurants. www.visitnaples.eu/en
www.estate-living.co.za
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