The most beautiful churches cathedrals basilicas and chapels Philippines

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.

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).

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.

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 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.