The stunning intricate designs of Manila’s Basilica of the Immaculate Conception come with incredible stories. If walls could talk, the walls of Manila Cathedral would have a wealth of tales to tell, having been through more natural disasters and misfortunes than most other buildings could endure.
The cathedral was constructed in 1581 and has been rebuilt no fewer than eight times in the last 400 years. Earthquakes, fires and World War II bombs have damaged the cathedral repeatedly, but the resilience of Manila's people have helped to ensure the buildings’ endurance to this day.
Inside the church, large stone arches guide your eye to the front of the cathedral, where the main altar sits in grandeur. The back of the cathedral features a stunning pipe organ, one of the biggest in Eastern Asia.
Light spills in through the over 130 stained-glass windows that stretch towards the ceiling and around the church dome. Make your way up the grand, stone-paved aisles, where Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception overlooks the main altar. Marble and rock feature heavily inside the cathedral, while a decorative bronze relief is used on many of the statues and altars.
Manila Cathedral contains eight small side chapels, each featuring their own marble altars, sculptures and religious paintings. Make sure to visit two of the most beautiful chapels – the Chapel of St Peter and the Chapel of the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Sacrament.
Outside, the large wooden doors feature bronze panels depicting six different scenes from the cathedral's history, including its first collapse in 1600. The trio of Romanesque arches on the outside give the cathedral its time-worn, classic look.
Located inside the Walled City of Intramuros, Manila Cathedral is easily reached by light rail and other forms of public transport. Get off at Carriedo Station and walk or take a jeepney to the cathedral. The building is open daily and admission is free. For information about service times, visit the cathedral’s website.
