San Agustín Church (Manila)

Philippines / National Capital Region / Manila / General Luna (Real del Palacio)
 place with historical importance, Baroque (architecture), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Roman Catholic church, 17th century construction
In 1993, San Agustin Church, or the Immaculate Conception Parish and the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation of the Cincture, was one of four Philippine churches constructed during the Spanish colonial period to be designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, under the collective title Baroque Churches of the Philippines. It was named a National Historical Landmark by the Philippine government in 1976.

Concealed behind the walled city of Intramuros, built by the Spaniards in 1570, is the church of San Agustin. This church is a significant monument to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, being the first religious structure built in the island of Luzon, after the Spanish relocated from Cebu in the south.

The facade has a touch of Baroque by the ornately carved wooden doors that depict floras and religious images. Baroque is also evident in the carved niches that quietly reside between the paired lower columns. The church is bequeathed with Chinese elements in the form of fu dogs that emphatically guard the courtyard entrances.

San Agustin church is also the only colonial church that has retained its original vaulting, despite the destructive forces that shelled the church during WW II. It was a fortuitous turn because San Agustin church flaunts one of the most artistically decorated interiors among all of the colonial churches in the country.

Adjacent to the church, the monastery was converted in 1973 to become a repository for religious artifacts and art treasures dating back as early as the 16th century. Here, one can spend an entire day to cherish and absorb the remains of a resplendent era in the country’s religious history.

Telephone: 527.4052; 527.2746; 338.2091

whc.unesco.org/en/list/677/multiple=1&unique_number=801

In this building

  1. Tomb of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi
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Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Agustin_Church,_Manila
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   14°35'20"N   120°58'31"E

Comments

  • The oldest church in the Phillipines.
  • check out their museum!!! maganda.
  • A great place to visit. Check out the museum. It gives one a glimpse of our past.
  • the most beautiful church i've ever seen in my life. i will married to this church one day :)
This article was last modified 3 years ago