Manila Cathedral

The Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception faces Plaza de Roma in the heart of Intramuros, and its history is essentially a list of disasters: the church founded here in 1571 has been destroyed by typhoon, fire, earthquake and, in 1945, by the battle that levelled the walled city, and the building standing today is the eighth, completed in 1958 by the architect Fernando Ocampo. It is Romanesque revival in style, in warm stone and brick, with a rose window, bronze doors carved with the site's history, mosaics in the apse and a pipe organ that was among the largest in Asia when installed. The cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Manila and a fully working church - weddings run almost continuously at weekends, and visitors are asked to wait or come back. It sits directly across the plaza from the Palacio del Gobernador and a short walk from Fort Santiago.

History

The church was founded in 1571 as a parish under the Archdiocese of Mexico and became a cathedral when the Diocese of Manila was created on 6 February 1579; Bishop Domingo de Salazar's first cathedral of nipa, wood and bamboo was consecrated on 21 December 1581. A stone cathedral of 1592 fell in the earthquake of 31 December 1600, and after a long series of rebuildings the eighth cathedral was completed in 1958 and made a minor basilica on 27 April 1981 (Wikipedia, Manila Cathedral).

What you'll find

• The rose window - the facade's centrepiece over Plaza de Roma.
• The bronze doors - panels recounting the church's rebuildings.
• The apse mosaics - the decorated sanctuary inside.
• The pipe organ - the large instrument in the loft.

When to go

Mornings on weekdays for quiet. Weekends are heavily booked with weddings and Masses, when sightseeing access is limited or closed.

Things to know

This is the eighth structure on the site - nothing above ground is centuries old. It is a working cathedral first: dress modestly, and expect closures for services without notice.

Nearby

Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church and Casa Manila are all within a few minutes' walk in Intramuros.

Key facts