The first thing I noticed when we drove into Tayabas two weekends ago was the imposing church belfry at the center of town. The century old key-shaped church is the tallest structure in town at 28.8 meters tall, first built by the Franciscans in 1589 using bamboo, nipa and anahaw, it was concreted in 1600. One of the most beautiful churches in the Philippines, Tayabas Basilica (also known as San Miguel de Archangel Basilica Menor) also boasts one of the biggest and oldest church clocks in Asia. Check out the church belfry (top right)...the clock is one half meter high and 42 centimeters in circumference. The lumbering clock came from Europe and was erected in the basilica in 1911, the only one of its kind in Luzon.
The church facade and interior design lean towards Baroque architecture, it has a transept, a cupola and a gold gilded pulpit.
I love the interior dome, with its ornate painting and plaster-work, and how light enters the dome windows giving this place an ethereal feel.
a white & gold pulpit Posted for Weekend Snapshot
Truly a beautiful church. Very nice interior. I love how the sun's rays shone through the dome. Just a question though. Were you able to get details as to who was the European manufacturer behind its 98 year-old clock?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing nice pics and info about this basilica.
Wow, that's a cool bit of history. Hope to visit that one of these days. Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteI love visiting churches especially looking at it interior. Thanks for the history you shared.
ReplyDeletehi, Panaderos! the maker of the original clock was not mentioned. it was damaged during WW II and for the next 50 years, the clock was forgotten. then in 1971, concerned parishioners initiated the rehabilitation of the clock. they hired Agapito Zafrance, a clock repairer and inventor, who reassembled and repaired the clock with his 3 sons. say mo, tama nga talaga ang oras ng clock no'ng nandon kami.:D
ReplyDeleteIt is so amazing we have so many hidden history and beauty. Thanks for the sharing the pictures.
ReplyDeleteI just loooooooooove old churches especially Philippine churches. Ang ganda-ganda! The first pic looks so eerie to me.
ReplyDeletewhenever i was in the tayabas-lucban area (btw, i am from quezon), i can only pass by this church. i always wanted to see the interior as i am imagining how beautiful it can be, and i was right, thanks to your pictures. hopefully i can see it for myself.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful church - the dome is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful and mysterious images!
ReplyDeletewow. thank you so much for the photo essay. made me feel like i was there too. i really like the second shot. my entry is here http://kcelebration.blogspot.com/search/label/weekend%20snapshot
ReplyDeleteI never thought this church is this lovely. I've stopped over in Tayabas few times when I was in highschool. Now I regret we didn't check the church.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful church. I want to visit it someday! Thanks for the free tour, I enjoy this post a lot
ReplyDeletehavent seen this yet. i like the dome. very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe first two photos look like paintings... Cool!
ReplyDeleteI love the architectural designs of old churches. They serve as time machines -letting you go back to the old times. :-)
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