Manila is one of the largest and most magnificent cities in the world and it also happens to be the capital of the Philippines. In actuality there are sixteen different cities that make up the urban environment, though Manila is the most prominent among them and it is also the cultural center of the country. In combination the cities make up one of the largest metropolitan regions in the entire world and they possess a total population of approximately twenty million people. And among all these people, or on account of them, there is also a tremendous amount of contemporary cultural elements and major attractions as well as some extremely important traditional heritage establishments.

Quezon City, which is a nearby neighbor is actually larger than Manila by population and geography. However, Manila has an interesting world statistic related to its population: it is has the most condensed populous in the entire world. This can be a difficult concept to imagine for Americans. And the best they can do is to try and imagine a more condensed version of San Francisco or New York.

With a metropolitan region with such a large, condensed population, it is essential to maintain adequate park space. And Manila has quite a few beautiful green parks, recreation areas and gardens. The Botanical Garden and Manila Zoo, one combined park, is one of the most popular parks for tourists and in addition to being beautiful it is impressive regarding its conservation and educational efforts. Other major city parks include the Mehan Garden, Manila Boardwalk, Rajah Sulayman Park and Paco Park. Perhaps the most symbolically important park in the city is Rizal Park. Its central monument stands tall in honor of the country's national hero Jose Rizal. The monument is noticeable from a distance and faces toward the Quirino Grandstand.

There are other major attractions and cultural establishments in the city and they include the National Museum of the Philippines. It was established in 1901 and continues to serve as the official repository of natural history for the Philippines. It can be found next to Rizal Park and is easily accessed from it. The museum is housed in a building that was designed by the American architect Daniel Burnham. One of the favorite places for tourists to visit is the Manila Ocean Park, which is famous for the variety of marine life and animals that are housed there. Manila attracts people from all over the world and it is an incredibly diverse and beautiful city.