Housed in a superb heritage-listed 19th-century building on the campus of the University of Santo Tomas, this museum lays claims to being the oldest in Asia (its original Intramuros campus dates to 1611). It comprises an interesting mix of taxidermy, coins, religious artefacts and a wonderful visual arts collection featuring Filipino masters and modernist painters. The building also has a grim link to WWII, serving as an internment camp that held 4000 Allied soldiers for three years under Japanese occupation.
The building is also noteworthy for its earthquake-resistant design, incorporating construction components interlinked with gaps between.
