Visita Iglesia Itinerary in Manila

Visita Iglesia is a famous Roman Catholic lenten or Semana Santa tradition of visiting seven different churches while reciting the Stations of the Cross prayer in them. The Seven Churches Visitation is traditionally observed on Maundy Thursday however it is now commonly practiced during any day of the Holy Week.

Malate Church in Manila

Here is a list of 7 heritage churches in Manila to guide you in planning your Visita Iglesia itinerary in Manila.

Binondo Church Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz

Located in the Worlds Oldest Chinatown, Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo is not hard to find. Also popularly known as Binondo Church, this heritage site is beautifully located in front of Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz. In 1596, Dominican priests founded Binondo church to serve their Chinese converts to Christianity as well as to the native Filipinos living in the area. The original building was destroyed in 1762 by British bombardment. A new granite church was completed on the same site in 1852 however it was greatly damaged during the Second World War, with only the western facade and the octagonal bell tower surviving.

Santa Cruz Parish Church in Manila

Located in front of Carriedo Fountain in Ongpin, Sta Cruz Parish Church was originally built by Jesuits before a new church construction was finished on June 20, 1619. In 1643, The Jesuits enshrined the image of the Our Lady of The Pillar to serve the pre-dominantly Chinese residents in the area. The image drew a lot of devotees and a popular followers grew around it.

Quiapo Church Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene also known as Saint John the Baptist Parish or Quiapo Church is a famous Roman Catholic Church located in the District of Quiapo. The basilica is the famous home of the miraculous Black Nazarene image where thousands of devotees flock each year for the annual religious procession. In this church, daily hourly masses are celebrated and devotees come from all walks of life.

San Sebastian Church

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Visita Iglesia Itinerary in Manila