Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a heritage park and open-air museum in the Philippines. Located in the small town of Bagac, Bataan, the sprawling area contains a large collection of restored Spanish-FIlipino houses. Once you step inside its gates, you feel like you’ve been transported back to the 18th century. It’s owner, architect Gerry Acuzar began to rebuild Spanish colonial-era buildings as early as 2003. The heritage park was opened to the public in 2010 and is now a popular tourist destination, vacation spot, and events venue.
I was able to visit Las Casas sometime ago and came away with many photographs. I will share some of my favorite images here.
The houses were transferred brick by brick from all over the Philippines, then reassembled in Bagac. Missing pieces are recreated by in-house woodworkers, sculptors, designers, and artists. The detail and craftsmanship in each building is truly outstanding.
To complete the experience, all staff at the park/resort have to wear traditional attire. It makes walking around the area even more surreal and memorable.
My favorite spot and probably the crowning jewel of Las Casas is the Hotel de Oriente. The original structure was the first luxury hotel in Binondo, Manila during the Spanish colonial era. A faithful replica has been made here at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. While it looks picturesque from the outside, the lobby is a true gem. The lobby is filled with intricate wooden sculptures and figures, hand crafted by artisans from Laguna and Pampanga, fusing Filipino images with European architecture and design.
Las Casas is truly an amazing place, and I highly recommend it for photography, relaxation, and just the overall experience.
Roy Cruz is a freelance travel photographer based in South Korea and the Philippines. Please get in touch for inquiries.
Photographer’s corner: All photos were taken with Fujifilm X cameras and lenses, including the Fujifilm X-T1, X-E1, X100S, XF 35mm f/2.0 WR, XF 60mm f/2.4 Macro, and Samyang 12mm f/2.0.
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