The National Museum of Fine Arts occupies a neoclassical legislative building on the edge of Rizal Park, built in 1918 during the American colonial period. The collection covers Philippine art from the Spanish colonial era to the contemporary period, with particular strengths in nineteenth-century academic painting and sculpture.
The building itself is worth visiting for its grand rotunda. The highlights of the permanent collection include Juan Luna's massive "Spoliarium," Félix Resurrección Hidalgo's historical paintings, and a strong representation of Fernando Amorsolo's luminous scenes of rural Filipino life. Admission is free, and the museum has recently undergone significant restoration. Allow two hours.