Santa Maria Church

About

The Santa Maria Church was at the end of the 18th century on the site of an older church. Unlike most churches in the Philippines which overlook the town square, the Santa Maria Church was built on a hilltop surrounded by fortified walls. The church’s beautiful, earthquake-resistant Baroque architecture and dramatic hilltop position make it especially picturesque. Today, the church is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its local interpretation of Baroque architecture, and is perhaps the most unusual of these for its simple brick facade, atypical location, and strange facade-blocking bridge connecting it to the adjacent convent. The church interior is a stark white affair, with essentially the only ornamentation being the Baroque altar.