Visita Iglesia

By Kin Enriquez -

Visita Iglesia, or Seven Churches visitation, is a Roman Catholic tradition done during the Holy Week, in which the faithful visits seven churches as a sign of piety. This practice is popular in the Philippines, and it is usually done during Good Friday.

Here are seven churches in and around Metro Manila that you can visit during the visita Iglesia:

Basilica of San Sebastian (top), a neo-Gothic church located in Plaza del Carmen, in C.M. Recto Avenue, in Manila. Made of pre-fabricated steel imported from Belgium, it was constructed in 1891 with the help of Gustav Eiffel.


Sta. Cruz church, located in the Chinatown district, in Binondo, Manila. It was built by the Jesuits in 1619.



Manila Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Manila and the prime basilica of the Philippines. The present neo-Romanesque church, built in 1953, was elevated as a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1981. The first of the eight churches in site was established in 1571.


San Agustin Church, the oldest standing church in the Philippines, is located inside the walled Intramuros in Manila. It was constructed in 1607, and is a prime example of "earthquake baroque" architecture. It was designated a UNESCO Heritage site in 1993.


Santo Niño de Paz, a church located in the center of Greenbelt district in Makati. The circular church was consecrated in 1983.


Quiapo Church, also known as the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. It was completed in 1899, but the original dates back to 1586. This is located in the Quiapo district of Manila, just in front of Plaza Miranda.


Barasoain Church, located in Malolos, Bulacan, just 42 kilometers from Metro Manila. The current church was built by the Augustinians in 1885, and is an important part of Philippine history.

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