The fortified city of Cavite, located in Manila Bay, has played a remarkable role in the history of Spanish walled settlements in East Asia. Due to its geographical location and its inner harbor, this small town flourished for more than 200 years as a commercial and military enclave. Unfortunately, Cavite was obliterated by air raids during World War II, and nowadays just some traces of the former city's walls and urban fabric can be seen. In this context, this research aims at clarifying the current state of this fortified city and reconstructing the historical process of its formation and transformation.
Extensive fieldwork was performed to clarify the current condition of this area; consultation of historical maps from archives and databases has provided the main chronological periods which have influenced its historical evolution. Also, it identifies the most representative extant structures regarding the fortification system and the urban fabric which it encloses.