Visita Iglesia in Iloilo

 

As the province of Iloilo was considered an important province during the Spanish Colonial Era, beautiful old world architecture can be seen all around. One example is the many Spanish colonial churches found scattered in the province. Almost all towns in the province boast of a Spanish colonial church. Most if not all are restored to their original designs.

If you are in Iloilo during the Semana Santa (Holy Week) or Cuaresma (Lent), go on a Visita Iglesia (church visit) pilgrimage. Visita Iglesia is a tradition practiced by the early Christians where they visit the 7 great basilicas in Rome for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Maundy Thursday. (Source: The Catholic Herald). This practice was passed on by the Spanish Colonizers to the Filipinos.

In recent time, Filipino Catholic faithfuls would visit either 7 (2 stations per church) or 14 churches (1 station per church) to pray the Via Crucis (Stations of the Cross).

 

 

Here are just some of the churches you can visit when you are in Iloilo:

 

Southern Iloilo

San Jose
- San Jose Church
- exterior: Byzantine & Neoclassic
- built in 1873

 

 

Molo
- Parish of St. Anne
- exterior: Gothic Renaissance
- interior: Gothic & Romanesque
- built in 1831

 

 

Jaro
- Cathedral of Notre Dame du Bougies (Our Lady of Candles)
- exterior: Baroque, Gothic and Neoclassic
- interior: Baroque
- built in 1870

 

 

Jaro
- St. Joseph Church

 

 

Eastern Iloilo

Lapaz
- Parish of our Lady of Peace & Good Voyage
- exterior: neo-classical

 

 

Arevalo
- Sto. Nino de Arevalo Parish

 

 

Northern Iloilo

Jaro
- San Agustin High School Church

 

 

Pavia
- Parish of Santa Monica
-  exterior: Byzantine
- finished in 1899

 

 

Sta. Barbara
- Santa Barbara Church and Convent
- exterior: baroque, Renaissance
- built in 1855 and was finished in 1878

 

 

Cabatuan
- San Nicholas de Tolentino Church
-  exterior: Tuscan in style
- built in 1833 and was finished in 1866

 

 

Janiuay
- Parish of St. Joseph & Cemetery
- exterior: Neoclassic, byzantine
- interior: Tuscanic and Doric order.
- finished in the late 1800's

 

 

Lambunao
- Parish of San Nicholas de Tolentino
- exterioir: Tuscan
- interior: Doric
- constructed in 1880 and finished in 1890

 

 

Calinog
- Parish of La Immaculada Concepcion
- exterior: Baroque
- built in 1874