Basilica del Santo Nino, Cebu City

Admire the oldest Christian image in the Philippines, and pay tribute to a revered patron saint of Cebu City at Basilica del Santo Nino, the oldest Roman Catholic church in the country. Founded in 1565 and originally built from wood, the church houses a 30 cm (12 in) tall statue of Jesus as a child, adorned in fantastic luxurious robes and presented to a local queen by Magellan as a baptismal gift. A cradle of Christianity in the East recognized by the Pope in 1965, the church, ruined three times in fires, has been restored, and also survived a recent earthquake. Thousands of visitors come here to see the wooden figure of baby Jesus made by Flemish artists. Make Basilica del Santo Nino a part of your Cebu City vacation plans using our Cebu City online sightseeing planner.