Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery

The cemetery at Nagcarlan was built in 1845 by a Franciscan parish priest, and its unusual feature is what lies under the small brick chapel at the centre: a crypt reached by a stone staircase, with burial niches set into the walls and floor, the only underground cemetery chamber of its type in the Philippines. Above ground it is a walled enclosure of brick and adobe with an arched gate, old tombs along the walls and a garden between them, quiet and shaded and much cooler than the street outside. Burials stopped in the 1980s and the site is now managed by the national historical commission as a museum. It has a second history: the crypt was used as a meeting place by Katipunan revolutionaries in the 1890s, which is why it carries a National Historical Landmark declaration as well as its architectural one.

History

The Franciscan priest Vicente Velloc built the cemetery in 1845 at the foot of San Cristobal volcano, away from the town, following rules meant to stop the spread of cholera, with the crypt reserved for friars and leading families. Katipunan leaders met here in 1896, and it was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1981, after which no new burials were allowed; the oldest tomb dates from 1886 (Wikipedia, Nagcarlan Underground Cemetery).

What's there

• The underground crypt - the chamber of niches beneath the chapel.
• The brick chapel - the small building at the centre.
• The walled enclosure - arched gate, old tombs and garden.
• The revolutionary history - the crypt's use as a meeting place.

When to go

November to May for easier travel. Weekday mornings are quietest. The site keeps museum hours and closes on certain days - check before travelling.

Good to know

It is small and takes under an hour. The crypt is dim, low and can feel close. Opening hours are fixed and it is closed on some weekdays; there is no café or shop.

Nearby

Liliw's slipper-making town and San Pablo's seven lakes are close; Pila's heritage plaza is a short drive.

Key facts