The most beautiful religious buildings Philippines

Built between 1571 and 1607, it is the oldest stone church in the country. A pure baroque jewel of the colonial era, it has been damaged many times by various earthquakes and the bombings of 1945. Inside, one can admire its trompe l'oeil paintings made in the ^19th century by Italian artists. The four panels of its beautiful wooden door depict the life of Saint Augustine. Miguel López de Legazpi is buried in a tomb near the main altar. In 1993, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site.

The Ma-Cho temple overlooks the sea from its hill. This pagoda, a singular example of religious syncretism (Taoist and Catholic), testifies to the importance of the Chinese influence on the city. It is the first Taoist temple of the country, built in 1975. Inside, a multitude of Chinese and Taiwanese works and decorations. The effigy of the Virgin of Caysasay is brought here during the festival of the Virgin in September. There are so few temples in the Philippines, the only predominantly Catholic country in Asia, so you might as well take advantage of it.

Located in the heart of Intramuros, the Basilica-Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is the seat of the Diocese of Manila. The current structure is a reconstruction as it was partially destroyed during World War II (in fact, it is the seventh version since the original structure was built in 1571). Filipinos still remember the visit of Pope Francis in 2015 who celebrated mass here. Its dome is huge and its stained glass windows tell the story of Christianization. Many weddings are celebrated here every weekend.

Baclayon Church, or Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church by its real name, is the second oldest stone Catholic church in the country. It was built by Jesuit priests in 1595, although some historians say it was actually built in 1717. For the record, it was built from coral rock that was cemented with the white of thousands (or even millions) of eggs! Severely damaged by the 2013 earthquake, it was only five years later that it was able to reopen.

The Bell Church or Buddhist temple is located to the north, under the aegis of an ecumenical community mixing Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Christianity. Chinese priests can make predictions to visitors. There are pagodas, dragons, the traditional koi pond and even a shrine containing the image of Our Lady of Lourdes after climbing another two hundred and fifty-two steps to Lourdes Grotto. It has a beautiful view of the city since it is located at the top of the hill.

St. Paul's Cathedral in Vigan is known for its baroque architecture and more specifically "earthquake baroque", an architectural style unique to the Philippines. For example, the bell tower was built next to the main body of the church so that it would not collapse inside in case of an earthquake. It was built by the Augustinians between 1790 and 1800. It is really gigantic. The tomb of Leona Florentino, poetess of Ilocano, the first woman of letters of the country, can be seen there (on a column near the entrance on Plaza Burgos).

At the top of a hill, this open-air chapel features relics of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague and Our Lady of Fatima, as some Filipinos call her. From here, surrounded by fruit trees, you have a panoramic view of the city and Mount Apo. It's a major place of pilgrimage, especially during Holy Week. Go on Sundays to share a true moment of life, when there are more people, including Filipino families.

Miagao is a small town 40 kilometers southwest of Iloilo, particularly famous for its late ^18th-century Baroque church, also known as the Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva. This church was built as a fortress in 1786, and its superb façade combines Catholic and indigenous (Chinese and Filipino) motifs. It was declared a national landmark in 1973, and finally included on the Unesco World Heritage list. It is one of the region's most visited attractions.

The monastery is famous for its pyramidal architecture and the views it affords. The monks produce coffee, which is used in Selecta's coffee crumble ice cream, and peanut-based sweets. They are also developing other crops such as rice, corn and soya. Profits go to help pay for the schooling and healthcare of farmers' children. It is possible to stay at the monastery for a total spiritual experience.

Davao's avant-garde cathedral blends Romanesque and Muslim styles. Named after the city's patron saint, San Pedro, this unusual cathedral traces its history back to the ^19th century. In 1847, a small neo-Gothic church was built by the Spanish conqueror Don Jose Oyanguren. In the 1960s, the desire arose to enlarge it, and it became an avant-garde concrete construction with a striking arched roof.

Ivana is located 14 km south of Basco. Dedicated to St. Joseph, this Catholic church was built in 1775 and is a testament to the craftsmanship of the Spanish and Filipinos. Its white façade was restored after being damaged by the earthquake of 2000. It is also in Ivana that you can see the House of Dakay, the oldest house in Batanes, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its former janitor, Lola Idan, remained famous for being one of the most photographed personalities of the archipelago, until her death in 2014.

The church was built in 1819. Volcanic stones were used to build it. The church was restored between 1971 and 1975 by the architects Francisco Mañosa and Ludwig Alvarez. It is famous for housing a unique bamboo organ: a masterpiece made of wood and bamboo that according to experts produces a unique sound that cannot be matched by any instrument in the world. This 5 meter high organ was built by the Spanish father Diego Cera who used 832 bamboo pipes and 122 metal pipes. Construction began in 1816 and was completed in 1824.

Superb, next to Magellan's Cross, in the town center. The present structure was built in 1602 after being ravaged by fire. The original structure (1565) was made of wood. The basilica houses the Santo Niño relic, the oldest Christian treasure in the Philippines, given by Magellan in 1521 to Queen Juana. Filipinos queue up to pay homage to this statue (it's a mad rush on Sundays and during the Sinulog festival).

Founded in 1586, it is very popular. This church was originally built in bamboo and nipa by Franciscan missionaries. Its current structure dates from 1930. It is known throughout the country for the celebration of the Black Nazarene, a statue of Christ that is said to perform miracles. The festival is attended by millions of people every year. The Quiapo district, one of the oldest in Manila, is also inhabited by a large Muslim population, hence the presence of the Great Golden Mosque and the Green Mosque.

It was built in the ^16th century and rebuilt in the ^19th. It is a building of Muslim and Baroque architecture and is one of the oldest churches outside the walled city. It was founded by Augustinian monks in honor of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. Even today, mothers of sick children come to implore Our Lady of the Remedios and light candles for their children. In 2023, the church, which is over 400 years old, was declared a "cultural asset of significance" by the National Museum of the Philippines.

This church is a mixture of Romanesque and Baroque architecture. It was built in 1773 with volcanic stones by Franciscan missionaries. From the top of the hill, it dominates Daraga. Its impressive facade of volcanic rock is covered with priceless religious sculptures and was originally completely black. To get there, you can take one of the many jeepneys coming from Legazpi. From the parking lot, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Mayon volcano and its surroundings. Quick but interesting visit.

Built around 1596 by Dominican friars, it is a perfect example of Spanish colonial architecture. It was severely damaged during the Second World War, but was restored in 1972. Only a few foundations and the octagonal tower of the bell tower are reminiscent of the original structure. This church located in the heart of Binondo district has a special importance in the Catholic history of the country since San Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint canonized in 1987, was formed here. Both the church and the plaza are named after him.

It was built in 1590, then renovated in 1950 after an earthquake. It is famous for its architecture mixing neo-Gothic and Romanesque styles. Its bell tower or belfry, located on a hillock, was used as an observatory during the war(bantay means "to keep"). You can climb up (94 steps) to enjoy a beautiful view of Vigan and the South China Sea in the distance. There are five bells of different sizes; each one was rung during various events: mass, wedding, baptism, burial or warning of approaching enemies.

Built in the ^{mid-nineteenth} century, the church of San Augustine boasts the highest bell tower in eastern Negros. It must be admitted that it shines more by its history than by its beauty. Nevertheless, it has a beautiful altar covered with gold leaf and a very rare organ (the only similar one is in Bohol), which originated in Zaragoza, Spain and was completed in 1894. The locals are proud of their church because, together with its cemetery and convent, it is well preserved and is one of the important colonial era churches in the country.

It is more interesting than the San Sebastian Cathedral, which was built in 1876 and is one of the major tourist sites in Bacolod. From the outside, the chapel of the Sang Virgen barangay looks almost like all the other houses of the Santa Clara housing estate, but this modern facade houses an imposing mosaic of 2.50 meters by 6 meters, composed of nearly one hundred thousand shells with colorful tones. Very nice showcase of the local craftsmanship of the shell.