Backpacking Philippines: Manila Visita Iglesia Route Guide to Manila's 7 Churches, Cathedrals and Basilicas in Holy Week

Manila Visita Iglesia Route Guide to Manila's 7 Churches, Cathedrals and Basilicas in Holy Week

Holy week is just around the corner and possibly many Catholics are planning to perform the traditional Visita Iglesia pilgrimage to seven churches in the city. Herewith is a nice guide and some photos of Manila's old churches

Sharing Tutubi's old pictures from his old "baul" of the Manila's old churches (and not so old ones). Note that most of these structures should be preserved for heritage values besides being lasting monuments of Filipino's faith.

San Agustin Church
Address: General Luna St. corner Real St., Intramuros, Manila

Description: San Agustin Church, Intramuros -Oldest Catholic Church in the Philippines and the only Church in Intramuros’ original seven that survived the the February 1945 Battle of Manila. Showcase of Earthquake Baroque architecture with interiors painted with trompe-l'oeil. Spanish conquistadors, Miguel López de Legazpi, Juan de Salcedo and Martín de Goiti are buried in a tomb, underneath the church while the nearby crypt (inside San Agustin Museum) lies the remains of Juan Luna.

How to commute there: From Quezon City (Espana or Quiapo), board a jeepney with Quiapo/Pier signboard then alight in front of Plaza Roma (where Manila Cathedral is located). San Agustin is a short walk from there. (Quiapo can be reached via LRT Carriedo station)

Manila Cathedral (Basilica Minore de la Nuestra Señora de la Immaculada Concepcion)
Address: Plaza Roma, Intramuros, Manila (near Palacio del Gobernador)

Description: Seat of the Archdiocese of Manila, present structure is the 6th cathedral to rise on the site since 1581 (the last one demolished after extensive damage during the Battle of Manila)
How to get to Manila cathdral: From Quezon City (Espana or Quiapo), board a jeepney with Quiapo/Pier signboard then alight in front of Plaza Roma (where Manila Cathedral is located). San Agustin is a short walk from there. (Quiapo can be reached via LRT Carriedo station)

Driving Directions to Manila Cathedral: route from Makati, head towards Buendia and turn right on Roxas Blvd. Drive all the way to Anda Circle (past Luneta) and turn right on the Intramuros gate where Manila cathedral can be seen on your right about 400 meters from the gate. (Parking space available at the ruins of the Ayuntamiento)

Tondo Church (Sto. Niño de Tondo Parish Church)
Address: I. Chacon, Tondo, Manila
Picture of Tondo Church by wandering Pusa available here while interesting history of the church is available here
Directions to Tondo Church: from Roxas Blvd, drive towards Intramuros then go straight to Delpan Bridge and Radial Road. Turn right at the corner of Moriones Street then right again on Zamora St. You'll pass by the imposing church structure there. The church is accessible by a short jeepney ride from Divisoria on Ilaya St.but Tutubi has yet to try it. He just passed by the place several times)

Malate Church (Nuestra Señora de Remedios Church)
Address: M.H. del Pilar St., Malate, Manila

Description: Augustinian built on the second half of the 18th century, Muslim-Baroque architecture. The church served as stone fortress of the British against the Spaniards in Intramuros.
How to get there: From Quezon City, Espana or Quiapo, hail a jeepney bound for Mabini and get off in front of the church.

Ermita Church (Nuestra Señora de Guia)
Address: M.H. Del Pilar St., Ermita, Manila
Description: the church of Ermita which was founded in 1591 as a small chapel with Nuestra Señora de Guia as patroness.
How to get there: From QC or Quiapo, hail a jeepney bound for Mabini. Get off in front of Ermita Church (near Hotel La Corona)
Directions by car/taxi from Makati, head towards Osmena Highway then Quirino Avenue. Turn left on Paz Guanzon St all the way to UN Avenue. After crossing Taft Avenue, turn left M.H. del Pilar St and look for the church on your left.

Pandacan Church: Sto. Nino de Pandacan
Address: Pandacan, Manila
Description: One of two churches in Manila devoted to the Santo Nino and therefore celebrates fiesta on the third Sunday of January.
How to get there: From Makati, proceed to Osmena Highway then right turn on reaching Quirino Avenue. Turn right on Jesus St. just before Mabini Bridge (Nagtahan). Pandacan Church is about 5 minutes from the corner. (The place is near the controversial Pandacan oil Depot)

Paco Church (St. Pancratius Chapel) and San Fernando de Dilao
Address: Paco, Manila

Description: Paco Cemetery, where St. Pancratius Chapel, was the place where the remains of Jose Rizal was buried in an unmarked grave and also the grave of the three martyred priests- Gomez, Burgos and Zamora, were buried.
How to get there: the place is a mere five minute walk from LRT UN Avenue station, walk towards Padre Faura St (the side opposite Philippine General Hospital)you'll see the old walls of the chapel on San Marcelino St.

Quiapo Church (Basilica Minore del Nazareno Negro)
Address: Plaza Miranda, Quiapo, Manila

(Quiapo Church picture by J, used with permission)
Description: Franciscan, 1586. Home of the annual January Black Nazarene procession on January 9.
How to get there: Quiapo Church is walking distance from LRT Carriedo Station All jeepneys with Quiapo signboard will take you to the church (after some walking).

Santa Ana ChurchNuestra Señora de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Abandoned)
Franciscan Missionaries founded in 1578, present church built in 1720.
How to get there: From LRT Pedro Gil Station (Herran). Hail a Sta. Ana-bound jeep and get off right in front of the church.

San Sebastian Church (Basilica Minore de San Sebastian)
Address: Plaza del Carmen, Quiapo, Manila
Description: the only all-steel church in Asia. Has links to Gustave Eiffel of France.

Binondo Church (Basilica Minore de San Lorenzo Ruiz)
Address: Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila

Description: Dominican Friars 1596, badly damaged during World War II, only the octagonal bell tower and some foundations remain of the original church structure.
How to get there: From Taft Avenue, hail a Divisoria-bound jeepney. Get off in front of the church.

Sta. Cruz Church (Santa Cruz Parish)
Address: Plaza Lacson, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Description: Society of Jesus (Jesuits) 1608. Dominican after the Jesuits’ expulsion. Original structure damaged during the Battle of Manila in 1945. Rebuilt in 1957.
How to get there: The Church is walking distance from LRT Carriedo Station. Commute from Taft Avenue, hail a jeepney bound for Sta. Cruz and alight in front of the church.

Bustillos Church (The Twin Churches of Bustillos: Church of Our Lady of Loreto and Church of St. Anthony of Padua)

The Franciscans built the Church of Our Lady of Loreto in honor of Nuestra Senora de Loreto in 1613. Rebuilt after World War II

The original Church of St. Anthony of Padua was built in Paco in 1619; relocated in Sampaloc in 1783.

Church of Our Lady of Loreto and the Church of St. Anthony of Padua are situated in the same compound on J. Figueras St (Bustillos Street)
How to get there: Bustillos is walking distance from LRT 2 . Jeepneys on Hidalgo St. bound for Bustillos pass in front of the churches. Other PUJ that pass near the area are Quiapo-Lealtad and Quiapo-Balic-balic routes. Jeepneys plying the Pasig-Quiapo route pass by Legarda St. Alight at Jollibee Bustillos on Legarda St then walk along J. Figueras St (formerly Bustillos St)

Other Interesting Churches and Chapels in Manila:San Beda: Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat (Benedictine Chapel in San Beda College)

DLSU Chapel: Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament (De La Salle University, Manila)San Miguel Church: St. Michael and the Archangels (San Miguel, Manila)

Suggested Manila Bisita Iglesia itinerary (walking tour) of seven churches on Holy Thursday:

Quiapo Church, San Sebastian Church, San Miguel Church, St Jude Thaddeus, San Beda Chapel, San Antonio de Padua and Loreto Church (Bustillos)

Updated: March 2013

Note: the other UNESCO Heritage Sites in the Philippines lumped together with San Agustin Church as Baroque Churches include Miagao Church in Iloilo, Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, and Sta. Maria Church in Ilocos Sur.

Related Posts:

St. Clare Monastery
Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage
Our Lady of Manaoag
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Lipa
Our Lady of the Pillar
Kamay ni Hesus
Visita Iglesia Rizal and Laguna

Labels: Churches, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital Region, Visita Iglesia

posted by GingGoy @ 10:29 PM,

19 Comments:

At Feb 20, 2008, 11:06:00 PM, Tinunuy said...: Im planning to fast on Holy week. :P

Nice shot of the churches. :)
At Feb 21, 2008, 11:27:00 AM, carlotta1924 said...: those churches are simply amazing. thanks for the tip how to get to binondo by jeep :D
At Feb 21, 2008, 12:08:00 PM, Anonymous said...: learned a lot from the churches you've featured in this post.
At Feb 21, 2008, 1:43:00 PM, lagal[og] said...: wow, churches! they're like camera magnet to me. i've always been fascinated with them and when i got into photography, the fascination grew. really appreciate this post as a lot of the churches you featured are really familar to me since i grew up in manila and heard Masses in those same worship places.
At Feb 21, 2008, 2:29:00 PM, Nini said...: this is what i miss here in the US: big old churches shown on this post. the church bells too.

nini
At Feb 21, 2008, 10:06:00 PM, Sidney said...: You don't own a picture of Quiapo Church??? I can hardly believe this!

Glad I visited them all... so I hope I am excused if I visit other places during Holy Week!

Tell us what exciting events will happen in your home town and I might spend my whole Holy Week in Paete next year!
At Feb 21, 2008, 10:12:00 PM, pusa said...: didnt know that you're supposed to visit 7 churches during visita iglesia

hmmm di pa ko nakapunta dun sa bustillos and san miguel church, sana makapunta dun

thanks uli sa special mention =)
At Feb 21, 2008, 10:14:00 PM, GingGoy said...: ethyl alcohol, fast what? fast eating?:P

carlotta, ows? you don't know how to commute to binondo?

orange, thanks

lagal[og], churches are nice subjects alright

nini, churches there in the US are alsonot that occupied.you'll find pinoys

sidney, you're sharp...sadl, but it's true...i realized itmyself even if i callmyself a"batang quiapo" for frequenting raon and hidalgo
At Feb 21, 2008, 10:18:00 PM, GingGoy said...: pusa, 7 churches is just tradition that many attribute to visiting the 7 churches of Rome though in ancient times, 7 is considered the perfect number,
At Feb 22, 2008, 1:21:00 AM, Photo Cache said...: my bosses here know i take good friday off every year, and i make a point to visit as many churches as i can around a 10-mile radius.
At Feb 22, 2008, 2:03:00 PM, Oman said...: Beautiful churches. Thanks for sharing these. I might not come there in Holy week but I will definitely visit some of these churches in the future.
At Mar 2, 2008, 4:56:00 PM, -= dave =- said...: Just in time for the Holy Week! Visita Iglesias is done usually on Holy Thursday. I remember doing one in Metro Manila. Naga City also has enough number of churches in a smaller area.
At Mar 12, 2008, 11:00:00 AM, Mitch said...: very informative site. GOD BLESS! :)
At Apr 6, 2009, 6:55:00 AM, Anonymous said...: some are saying 7 churches to be visit, some are saying 14, what is the truth behind that?
At Apr 6, 2009, 8:10:00 AM, GingGoy said...: anonymous, it's really seven. seven is regarded as a perfect number in the bible. there were also seven churches in Rome, the original city of the visita iglesia. there were also seven churches in Intramuros before six of them were bombed to the ground in WWII, only San Agustin Church survived, the Manila cathedral was rebuilt while the others relocated outside Intramuros like Sto. Domingo Church in Quezon City, the Jesuits relocated to the new Ateneo de Manila also in Quezon City, San Antonio moved to Forbes Park et al
At Apr 9, 2009, 4:21:00 PM, (",) said...: This is a great tip for me who does not even step in the streets of Manila. I plan to do the visita iglesia tomorrow and it gets me excited and scared - cus im not familiar with the ins and outs. but thats adventure, right? ;-)
At Apr 9, 2009, 4:23:00 PM, (",) said...: Hey tutubi, you frequent Quiapo pala? I am interested to see the place nga although i don't know whom to go with. i dont think i am that adventurous to do it alone though. My friends are certainly not the type to be interested in the REAL manila. but thanks for this site i am now becoming more than willing to just do it. wish me luck!
At Apr 9, 2009, 4:31:00 PM, (",) said...: as i was reading back... visita iglesia on a thursday? oh man, can i do it on a friday? are they still open tomorrow? i didn't know that. :-(
At Apr 9, 2009, 7:14:00 PM, GingGoy said...: M_E, anytime you can do it. it's just tradition to do it on holy thursday...i passed by quiapo church a few hours ago and there were too many people with cars parked on quezon avenue. also passed by binondo church, went to malate at shawarma snack center then went home again :P

Manila Visita Iglesia Route Guide to Manila's 7 Churches, Cathedrals and Basilicas in Holy Week

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