(This is part of my Ilocos Sur townhopping last June 15-16, 2013)
From my fulfilling and successful Abra town hopping, I hopped onto a bus to continue my town hopping, this time in the Heritage Province of Ilocos Sur. I was so excited then because my next destination is the town of Santa Maria to visit and see the world famous Santa Maria Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Santa Maria Church. Baroque Church of the Philippines. UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
Santa Maria Church on a hill. Ilocos Sur. |
Santa Maria Church. Ilocos Sur. |
The side walls of the church is supported by massive buttresses to protect it from earthquake. The church's facade is devoid of intricate carvings but is a classic example of a beautiful geometric form design. The church is primarily built with red bricks, adding to it the elegance which only red bricks exude.
Santa Maria Church historical marker. |
Santa Maria Church Bell Tower. Ilocos Sur. |
Santa Maria Church Grotto. Ilocos Sur. |
SANTA MARIA CHURCH INTERIOR
The church interior is surprisingly devoid of any intricate designs and paintings usually found inside a Spanish-era Ilocos churches. The wall and the ceiling is characteristically bare though the altar is also beautiful.
Santa Maria Church Altar |
Santa Maria Church Choir Loft |
Santa Maria Church Pulpit |
Santa Maria Church Interior |
Exiting the church on the other side, I found another stairways that descends to a pathway built over rice fields leading to a cemetery. I have also snapped a picture of that other stairway showing the greeneries on that side of the church (the picture though, is not included in this post).
Santa Maria Church is the second church I am able to visit among the four consisting the Baroque Church of the Philippines, and the 5th among 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Philippines (I have yet to visit San Agustin Church in Manila, Miag-ao Church in Iloilo and the Tubbataha Reef in Palawan).
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How to get to Santa Maria Church, Ilocos Sur :
From Vigan or Abra, just take a bus going to Manila or Cubao. The travel will take no more than an hour.
From Cubao, just take any bus going to Vigan or Laoag (Florida, Partas, Dominion, etc). The travel will take 8-9 hours so be sure to bring jacket for a long, cold ride. Be sure to ask the conductor if they are passing through Santa Maria because it is not along the highway though some buses also passes through it.
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To know more about my Ilocos Sur Tour, please keep posted for detailed posts about the different towns I have been to in the coming days. Thanks!
For the meantime, visit:
A Blast from the Past : Ilocos Sur
Sinait : A Town of Legend
Strolling around Cabugao, Ilocos Sur
Magsingal : A Town of Wanderers
San Vicente : the Barrio Destined to Become a Town
The Heritage City of Candon
For the meantime, visit:
A Blast from the Past : Ilocos Sur
Sinait : A Town of Legend
Strolling around Cabugao, Ilocos Sur
Magsingal : A Town of Wanderers
San Vicente : the Barrio Destined to Become a Town
The Heritage City of Candon
It is one of my favorite church here in the philippines..its quite relaxing. that church portrays many historical background of our country. :)
ReplyDeleteGanda! I love the interior... mabuti at na-maintain nila. Naku, isa palang nakikita ko St. Agustin sa Intramuros... hehe!
ReplyDeleteYup, ganda nga niya... pero pinakamaganda sa apat, yung Miag-ao Church... Nakakalungkot nga eh, yung sa San Agustin, masyado nang napakialaman kaya halos iba na itsura niya sa dati...
DeleteKaya plano na para sa Santa Maria, Paoay at Miag-ao Church! :)
Deleteang ganda.ito nalang yung kulang ko!i've been to miag-ao,paoay and san agustin in intamuros.hope to visit the province of abra den!:)
ReplyDeletePack your bags na sir and hop on a bus to Ilocos Sur and Abra... You won't regret it... :)
DeleteEto na lang ang kulang ko sa 4 na baroque churches. Thanks for posting kung paano pumunta. Madami kasi nagsasabi na out of way cya sa mga usual na pasyalan sa ilocos sur
ReplyDeleteHindi naman po masyado out of way... Kayang kaya puntahan... :)
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ReplyDelete