The most beautiful religious buildings Luzon

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.

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).

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.

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.

Cagsawa is one of the best places to see the Mayon volcano. The ruins of this ^16th century baroque church are a reminder of the volcano's biggest eruption, which occurred on February^1, 1814, killing 1,200 people. It destroyed the villages of Cagsawa, Camalig and Budiao, covering them with a thick layer of ash and lava, washing away everything in its path. Many souvenir stores surround the site and distort it a little and the ruins are not very well preserved. However it remains a rare and interesting place of history.

This beautiful church was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1993. It was built in the ^18th century in an "earthquake baroque" style, with gothic and Chinese influences, with bricks and coral held together by mortar and sugar cane juice (the walls are 1.67 m thick). It was used as an observation post during the revolution against the Spanish and against the Japanese during the Second World War. In 2000, an excavation brought to light a prehistoric human skeleton and fragments of ceramics.

It is the largest church in the region of Ilocos (137 m long). Built between 1669 and 1679 in an "earthquake baroque" style (separate bell tower), it is made of brick and has a bridge that connects it to the nearby convent. The Spaniards tortured Filipino rebels here, as did the Japanese during World War II. Irene Marcos, daughter of former dictator Marcos, restored the complex on the occasion of her wedding in 1983. However, an earthquake destroyed it again. It was restored again.

Laoag Cathedral was built in 1580 and restored around 1880 after earthquakes, fire and typhoons. Its 45 meters tower built by the Augustinian fathers in 1612, it is of "earthquake baroque" style. The bell tower has six bells of different sizes. The ancients say that in the past you could enter with a horse: today, even a man of average height has to bend down to enter the tower. Today, even an average-sized man has to bend down to enter the tower, which sinks into the soft earth, hence the name it was given, "sinking bell tower".

It is 1 hour south of Vigan. It is one of the most famous baroque churches in the Philippines and has been listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Built at the end of the ^18th century, it was used as a fortress during the Philippine revolution of 1896. It belongs to the architectural movement that characterizes Philippine churches of the colonial era, the tremor baroque. Faced with earthquakes, the churches were built lower, with thick walls of clay and mortar and the bell tower often set apart.