National Museum of the Philippines (Fine Arts, Anthropology, Natural History)
National Museum of Fine Arts / Anthropology / Natural History
Free entry to the Spoliarium and the Tree of Life
⚠ Closed Mondays
- Hours
- Tue–Sun 9am–6pm, closed Mondays
- Tickets
- Free; walk-ins are normally fine (groups book ahead)
- Address
- Padre Burgos Avenue, Ermita; the three buildings sit together on the edge of Rizal Park
The art museum lives in the old Legislative Building, and at the top of the stairs one painting fills an entire wall: Juan Luna's Spoliarium, dead gladiators being dragged out of a Roman arena. Of the twin buildings across the lawn, one is the Museum of Anthropology, with finds from the sunken galleon San Diego and ancient burial jars; the other is Natural History, built around a 'Tree of Life' structure rising through the atrium, plus the skeleton of Lolong the giant crocodile. All three are free, which makes them a perfect escape from the midday heat.