Where to go for Visita Iglesia near Metro Manila? Popular choices could be the provinces south of the Metro such as Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon. If you want to go north, you could also visit the provinces of Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, and Tarlac. For this list, I'll be sharing some of the churches in Pampanga that you could visit for Visita Iglesia during Holy Week.
San Fernando Cathedral
1. Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando, Pampanga
The seat of of the Archdiocese of San Fernando, it is a neo-classical church with interiors designed by Architect Fernando Ocampo in 1948.
Bacolor Church
2. San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga
This old church was originally established by the Augustinian Friars and constructed the church in 1576. The church is now known because of the destruction brought by the lahar from Mt. Pinatubo's eruption that buried half of the church.
Betis Church
3. Betis Church in Guagua, Pampanga
The St. James the Apostle Parish Church, commonly called as Betis Church is a Baroque-inspired catholic church located in Betis, Guagua, Pampanga. Declared a "National Cultural Treasure" by the National Museum of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, it is a must-visit when traveling to Pampanga.
Guagua Church (Photo by Charlon Carlos)
4. Immaculate Conception Parish Church (Guagua Church)
Since you're already in Guagua, visit also the Immaculate Conception Parish Church located at Brgy. Plaza Burgos, Guagua, Pampanga. Although not as popular as the Betis Church, this 17th-century Baroque church is also a must-visit when doing a visita iglesia in Pampanga.
Lubao Church (Photo by Mark Caballa)
5. San Agustin Church, Lubao Pampanga
Located at Brgy. San Nicolas I, Lubao, Pampanga, this 17th-century Neo-classical, Spanish-era stone and brick church was declared by the National Museum of the Philippines as one of the "Important Cultural Properties of the Philippines" in 1993. The Important Cultural Property title is the second highest title granted by the National Museum to heritage structures, next to the National Cultural Treasure.
Apung Macalulu Shrine (Photo from Angeles City Tourism)
6. Apung Macalulu Shrine, Angeles City Pampanga
Located at Archdiocesan Shrine of Christ our Lord of the Holy Sepulchre in Barangay Lourdes Sur, Angeles City, Pampanga, this is a popular pilgrimage site during holy week as this is where Santo Entierro is enshrined. Special Holy Mass is celebrated at Apung Macalulu Shrine every Friday.
Angelest City Church (Photo from Angeles City Tourism)
7. Sto. Rosario Church, Angeles Pampanga
Located at the center of the old Culiat town, now Angeles, Pampanga, Sto. Rosario Church is one of the most distinguishable landmarks in the city. It was built from 1877 to 1896 by the people of Angeles by forced labor system.
ALSO READ: Where to Eat: Restaurants in Angeles City, Pampanga
Suggested Itinerary (Route)
From Manila, drive all the way to San Fernando City via North Luzon Expressway. Then drive westward to Bacolor, Guagua and Lubao via Olongapo-Gapan Road. After that, you may go back to San Fernando and drive north to Angeles City via Mc Arthur Hi-way.
ALSO READ: Top things to do in Pampanga, Tourist Spots and Itinerary
This list of churches can serve as your guide in planning a your itinerary for a Visita Iglesia in Pampanga this Lenten Season. If you're planning to stay in Pampanga during the holy week, I recommend staying in Clark/Angeles area, CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST OF HOTELS IN CLARK/ANGELES!Hotels and Resorts in Clark / Angeles, Pampanga
Planning to stay for a night or two in Pampanga? The best place to stay is Angeles City or Clark areas. Check out these top-rated hotels and resorts in Angeles/Clark with exceptional and excellent ratings and reviews from previous guests. Get as much as 50% discount on room rates if you book your stay in advance!
Other Things to Do in Pampanga
- Awesome Pampanga Food Trip
- Fun Day at Sky Ranch Pampanga (Buy Ride-All-You-Can Tickets Here!)
- Explore Zoocobia Fun Zoo in Clark
- Enjoy a day at Dinosaurs Island in Clark
- Enjoy the Water Activities at Aqua Planet Clark
- Food and Heritage Tour in Pampanga
Great Share. . . One can easily locate church.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
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