Directions
Go back up Calle Real, turn right on Gen. Luna Street and enter the parking lot of San Agustin Church immediately on your right.San Agustin Church and Museum
The San Agustin Church was first constructed in1571 and destroyed by marauding pirates in 1574. It was built (and destroyed) two more times before the present structure was completed in 1604, using a design so stable that earthquakes (the bane of the Philippines' baroque churches) could not topple it.
The Church is the first European stone church designed along Spanish lines in Manila. It has 14 side chapels, hand-carved hardwood pews dating back to the 17th century, an 18th-century pipe organ, and a beautiful trompe l'oeil ceiling. Beside the church is a small museum featuring Spanish-era vestments, furniture, and religious artwork. Along with three other ancient Philippine churches, San Agustin Church was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
Its walls have stood as a mute witness to Philippine history. Three Spanish conquistadors are buried here. In its vestry, Spanish and American commanders discussed the city's terms of surrender during the Spanish-American War. Japanese soldiers massacred 140 people on the premises during World War II, as the American troops approached Intramuros.
Contact Details:
Calles Gen Luna and Real
Manila, Philippines
Telephone: +63 2 527 4060
