Basilica del Sto Niño
The Basilica del Santo Nino, which was built in 1565 by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Father Andres de Urdaneta, houses the oldest and most celebrated Christian relic in the country –the image of Senor Santo Nino de Cebu (Infant Jesus). The image was given by Ferdinand Magellan as a gift to Queen Juana during her baptism in April 21, 1521. After being destroyed by the fire the structure was rebuilt in 1602 and then rehabilitated in 1740. Thousands of devotees gather at the Basilica every Friday for the novena. Devotees, too, flock to the church for the Sinulog celebration every third week of January.
Fort San Pedro
The Fort San Pedro is the smallest and oldest triangular bastion in the country, which was built in 1565 and completed over a century and a half later. This fort was built to primarily protect the Spanish settlers from the attacking pirates in the area. It has also witnessed the different changes in the history of Cebu Island until much of it was destroyed during the Japanese occupation when it served as a prison camp.
Lapu Lapu Shrine
The monument was dedicated to Lapu-Lapu, the first Filipino hero which stands inside the Mactan Shrine facing Magellan Bay. Lapu-Lapu is considered one of the greatest figures in Philippine history because he was among those who rejected foreign power. Lapu-Lapu, who was the chieftain of the area, defeated Ferdinand Magellan, the leader of the Spanish fleet, in the famous Battle of Mactan.
Taoist Temple
Taoist Temple is a concrete reminder of the well-established Chinese Community in Cebu City, who has contributed much to the industrialization of Cebu. The temple was built in 1964 and is a classic example of Chinese architecture which houses the teachings of Lao-Tse, the 600 B.C. Chinese philosopher. Everyday people climb its 81 steps (representing the 81 chapters of Taoism scriptures) and light joss sticks and have their fortune read..
Casa Gorordo Museum
Located in Lopez Jaena Street, it is the home of the first Filipino Bishop of Cebu –Juan Gorordo (1862-1934). A tour inside this residence is a brief journey into a Filipino lifestyle in a particular period between the years 1860-1920. The place presently features noted paintings, museum relics, a courtyard, antique household items and furniture.
President Sergio Osmena Sr. Memorabilia
The museum showcases an estimated 500 personal belongings and documents worthy of remembrance of the Grand Old Man of Cebu, made possible by various donations of generous friends and relatives of the former president.
Houses Liturgical Exhibition of Artifacts found in parishes all over the province of Cebu, it traces the history of the Parishes and at the same time pinpoints the richness of the cultural legacy of Cebu as the seat of Christianity of Cebu. The building which housed the temporary collection was the old rectory of the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. It also showcases old maps of Cebu that show various old buildings built around the 19th century.
The Cathedral Museum of Cebu
Museo Sugbo
The museum has 12 galleries spread in six buildings, all made of coral stone and lime mortar, the largest collection of Spanish colonial structures ever to be found in a single site in Cebu. Six of these galleries are dedicated to the prehistory and history of Cebu and are located at the former administration building of the colonial jail. Arranged chronologically, the six cover the prehistory of Cebu with a fine collection of excavated stone tools, boat shaped coffins and trade ware ceramics, down to the colonial legacy where one finds documents from the Legazpi Expedition in 1565, objects from the Katipunan uprising in Cebu to the memorabilia of the American colonial period, among others. A fine collection of World War II objects as well as the mementoes of the post war years complete the galleries.
The Museo De Parian, as in the name, is located in Parian district of Cebu city. The fact that the Jesuit house was transformed several times over many centuries was evident after discovering a coin buried in the house, which was supposedly used during the age of the Ming dynasty. Hence it was also quite clear that a Chinese family owned the house then.
The JRG Halad Museum pays tribute to the enduring legacies of Cebuano cultural heritage as expressed through music.Visitors experience Cebuano music, performing arts, cultural heritage and research exhibitions.
JRG Halad Museum
Boljoon Church
The church was built within a stone perimeter wall with two massive gates that encloses the entire complex. It houses a museum located on the ground floor of the rectory which still has its original clay-tiled roof. Within the church complex is a two-level blockhouse with a roofed parapet where artillery was mounted, watchtower remains on a hill to the North, an enclosed cemetery and an old school building built in 1940. Boljoon Church is a National Heritage Landmark and is currently undergoing restoration and rehabilitation.
Cebu City
Cebu stands as the country's top business and tourist destination. Crowned as the Queen City of the South, it is here where business and leisure breathe together with office buildings and beach resorts finding its own place under Cebu's friendly skies.
Cebu is subdivided into 6 component cities and 47 municipalities. With its 6 cities; Cebu, Danao, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Toledo and Talisay; and its 47 smaller towns, Cebu has more than kept pace with the nation's progress. Recent indications pointed out that Cebu has become the country's favorite tourist destination. In contrast to the bustling metropolis, the rest of Cebu’s 167 islets and islands are lined with idyllic white sandy beaches and pristine clear waters. Cebu has gained wide popularity for fantastic diving grounds evidenced by the proliferation of resorts which offer luxurious accommodations. Cebu's strategic location makes it ideal for those who wish to travel to the other islands and provinces by plan, boat or bus. No place could be too far from Cebu.
As the oldest city in the Philippines, its past is also firmly entrenched in the annals of the Spanish conquest. A handful of historical remnants recall those missionary days - Magellan’s cross and the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.