Rizal Park Luneta: Largest Urban Park in the Philippines

Rizal Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines. Named after national hero José Rizal, the park is home to a variety of historical monuments, cultural attractions, and recreational facilities. If you’re looking for a fun day out in Manila, make sure to visit Rizal Park! In this blog post, we’ll give you a tour of the park and tell you all about its history and attractions.

Rizal Park Description:

• Rizal Park is also known as Luneta Park
• Rizal Park Address: Roxas Boulevard, Ermita, Manila, Philippines 1000
• The park covers an area of 58 hectares
• It is one of the largest urban parks in the Philippines
• It It is bounded by Taft Avenue, Padre Burgos Avenue, and Roxas Boulevard.

Table of Contents

• Rizal Park History
• Rizal Monument
• Rizal Park Attractions
  • Gardens
  • Hotels
  • How to Get to Rizal Park
• Conclusion:

Rizal Park History

The history of Rizal Park dates back to 1820, when the Paseo de Luneta was built on a waterfront area south of the walls of Manila. The park was originally known as Nuevo Barrio or Bagumbayan Field, which was formerly known as Bagumbayan Field and surrounded by a moat. The Paseo de Alfonso XII was later built west of Bagumbayan Field and named after King Alfonso XII, who reigned from 1874 to 1885.

The park is famous as the site of public executions during the Spanish era. 158 political enemies of Spain were executed here between 1823 and 1897. In 1872, Filipino priests Mariano Gomez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora—collectively known as Gomburza—were garroted for their involvement in Cavite mutiny against Spanish colonial rule.

Rizal Park has witnessed many significant events in Philippine history. One of the memorable events that took place in Luneta was the execution of our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal on December 30, 1896—an act that inspired Filipinos to start a revolution against the colonizing Spanish regime.

Rizal Park was subsequently named in honor of Dr. Jose Rizal, who became a symbol of patriotism for his countrymen. A bronze granite monument was erected in honor of Rizal and now stands as a tribute to him within this historical park.

Rizal Monument

The bronze-and-granite monument of José Rizal, Filipino patriot, writer and poet, is among the most famous sculptural landmarks in the country. It is almost protocol for visiting dignitaries to lay a wreath at the monument. Located on the monument is not merely the statue of Rizal, but also his remains.

The Rizal Monument original name: Motto Stella a Latin words which means “Guiding Star”. It is 12.7 meters in height. The Rizal Monument commemorates the heroic act of Jose RIzal to the country.

A commemorative plaque on the left side of the Rizal Monument reads: “To the memory of Jose Rizal, patriot and martyr, executed at Bagumbayan Field December thirtieth 1896, this monument is dedicated by the people of the Philippine Islands”.

Rizal Park Attractions

Rizal Park is home to a number of historical monuments and buildings. The most prominent of these is the Rizal Monument, which is a towering bronze sculpture of José Rizal that stands at the center of the park.

Other notable monuments in the park include the Bonifacio Monument, which honors the Philippine national hero Andres Bonifacio, and the Lapu-Lapu Monument, which honors the Filipino hero who defeated the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.

The park also contains a number of museums, including the National Museum of Fine Arts, the National Museum of Anthropology, and the National Planetarium. There are also several theaters and performance venues in the park, such as the outdoor Open-Air Auditorium and the Manila Metropolitan Theater.

Gardens

In addition to its historical and cultural attractions, Rizal Park is also a great place to enjoy some recreation. The park has a wide variety of facilities for sports and leisure, including Childrens Park, Chinese Garden, Japanese Garden, Noli me Tangere Garden, Orchidarium and Butterfly Pavilion.

Hotels

If you are looking for hotels near Rizal Park, there will be a lot of options to choose from. This inclulde Octagon Mansion Hotel, Go Hotels Ermita, Bayview Park Hotel Manila, City Garden Suites Hotel Manila,The Pearl Manila Hotel and the Sunny Bay Suites.

How to Get to Rizal Park

If you decided to visit the Rizal Park, you can get there from the following routes:

Route 1:

1. From Buendia Avenue, ride a jeep going to LRT United Nations station.
2. From LRT United Nations station, walk for several minutes going to Rizal Park.

Route 2:

1. From SM City San Lazaro in Manila, walk towards the Rizal Avenue and ride a jeep bound to Taft Avenue. Asked the jeepney driver to alight you at T.M. Kalaw Avenue or near Rizal Park.

Route 3:

1. From Lawton Manila, ride a jeep that has a signage of Baclaran. 
2. Then tell the jeepney driver to alight you in front of Rizal Park.

Route 4:

1. From SM Mall of Asia, ride a UV Express van that passes Roxas Boulevard.
2. Then tell the van driver to drop you off near the Rizal Monument.

Route 5:

1. From Cubao Quezon City, ride a jeep or UV Express van bound to Quiapo and asked the driver to alight you at Rizal Avenue.
2. From Rizal Avenue, ride a jeep bound to Rizal Park. 

Conclusion:

Rizal Park is a popular tourist destination in Manila that offers a variety of attractions for visitors to enjoy. The park is home to several historical monuments, as well as a variety of gardens and other recreational facilities. Whether you’re looking for a place to relax or a place to learn about the history of the Philippines, Rizal Park is sure to have something for you.