In Manila, Catholics follow the tradition of Visita Iglesia, which means visiting different churches during Holy Week. Metro Manila has so many interesting churches you can visit, some with great architecture, others that are really old. If you want to visit churches here, you will need to conduct a good research and plan your trip ahead of time so that you can have a great experience. Here are the best opportunities you want to take into account.
Nuestra Senora De Gracia Church – Guadalupe Viejo, Makati
Makati is an area that is filled with commercial establishments and skyscrapers. This church features Baroque and Renaissance architecture. It is quite old, with a façade that is striking and simple. The entrance is arched and people love the rose window.
Nuestra Senora De Gracia is 400 years old, built in the year 1629. A part of it was rebuilt later as there were structural problems that appeared. This church was rebuilt and then reopened in the year 1983. The church is really easy to reach by MRT train or bus towards Guadalupe Edsa.
Sta. Ana Church – Sta. Ana
Also known as Parish Of Our Lady Of The Abandoned, the church features some pretty impressive columns and arches. The domed bell tower is lovely and we can say that few churches are as lovely as this one. At the moment it is a national cultural treasure according to presidential degree. The murals are particularly beautiful, with murals of Jesus and Mary. You can see capiz windows, azulejos tiles and both furniture and designs associated with the original time period.
The church is around 300 years old, with its cornerstone being laid in the year 1720. During World War II there are different churches that were spared and this is one of them.
Our Lady Of Remedies Parish Church – Malate
The church features a great Baroque design with columns and arches. Although there is no bell tower present and there are some Muslim design elements, on the whole we have access to quite a beautiful church that has to be visited. The church is definitely unique, mainly because of the cross shaped rooftops. Our Lady Of Remedies Parish Church is around 150 years old. However, technically speaking the church is over 420 years old, at least some of its elements. The rebuilding process happened in 1864 because an earthquake that was followed by a typhoon destroyed the church.
San Agustin Church – Intramuros
This is a must visit since it is the only UNESCO World Heritage church that is present in Manila. The Baroque architecture automatically stands out and you will surely love both the ceilings and the walls. These elements use the Trompe l’oeil technique offering a 3D appearance to something done in 2D. The original structure of the church is over 440 years old but there are parts that have been rebuilt.