Showing posts with label UNESCO World Heritage Site. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UNESCO World Heritage Site. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Baroque Churches of the Philippines : A Fusion of European and Indigenous Arts

... and San Josenyong Gala visited them all!  


The Baroque Churches of the Philippines is a group of Spanish-era Churches in the Philippines inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list. It is composed of four Roman Catholic churches constructed between the 16th to 18th centuries and can be found in different areas of the country: two in the Ilocos Region (Luzon Island), one in the National Capital Region (Intramuros, Manila) and one in the Visayan Island of Panay, in Iloilo.

This group of churches is a fine example of the fusion of European and Indigenous Filipino church design and construction. Church designs was adapted to the physical condition in the Philippines of which the following are prominent characteristics: 1. large buttresses that could withstand earthquake or heavy storms; 2. indigenous motiffs such as plants (papaya, coconut, palm trees) or traditional clothing (as worn by saints depicted in the churches facade); 3. squat, monumental, massive and fortress like appearance (in response to pirates/marauders during the time the churches was built.) 

As a travel blogger, it is a feat for me to be able to visit all these magnificent heritage structures at last! Join me in my trip to my past as I recount my experience in visiting all four churches.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Santa Maria Church : A UNESCO World Heritage Site

(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 is one of the four churches (the others being Miag-ao Church in Iloilo, Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte, and San Agustin Church in Manila) clumped as the Baroque Churches of the Philippines inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List.