San Agustin Church
1 saveRecommendation by Lemi
Like the Manila Cathedral, the San Agustin Church was first built with nipa and bamboo. When the Chinese pirate Limahong raided Manila, the church was razed to the ground. After a second incident, the church was rebuilt in stone. San Agustin Church reinforced the spread of the Catholic faith, but during the Japanese occupation in World War II, its hallowed halls served as a concentration camp. Unlike majority of Intramuros in the Battle of Manila, it stayed upright amidst the wreckage. The adjacent monastery was completely destroyed, but the church stood. Bask in the opulence of 16th-century crosses, Parisian chandeliers, and a majestic pipe organ. Look up, and the ceiling can play tricks on your eyes with its three-dimensional paintings—a style called trompe l’oeil. San Agustin Church also hosts an extensive collection of religious artefacts for history buffs and devout believers. Its charm carries on, hosting weddings and regular Masses—a living tradition inherited from the Spanish.
General Luna Street, Manila City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Other posts about San Agustin Church
The San Agustin Church belongs to the family of Baroque churches here in the Philippines. The worship sanctuary earned a spot in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list for its majestic interiors, French glass chandeliers, and stone statues in the courtyard. Two Italian painters used a technique called trompe l'oeil on the ceiling, which creates a captivating illusion of three-dimensional patterns.
San Agustin Church is home to the remains of hundreds of friars and renowned artist, Juan Luna. This puts the country's oldest Baroque stone church on the map where ghosts are rumored to be seen. Imagine encountering the ghost of Juan Luna on your visit here, quite scary and fascinating.
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