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Travelog: Basilica de San Martin de Tours (Taal, Batangas)

As a road tripper, being in a road trip and visiting a nearby town is really an exciting things to do. Visiting places rich in history is a great experience where I’ve learned something from them; to know the history beyond the places I’ve visited. I remembered during our educational field trip way back in elementary and high school days wherein we’ve been visited historical places, but during at that age, what I have in mind was I am just having fun and I never mind what my teachers said. But now, as I grow older, I realized that there are so many places in the Philippines that are worth visiting, where there’s no amount of money can ever be compared on these little pleasures and yet rich experience I have as I travelled. Thus, I must conclude that, travelling is fulfilling.


Last month of July, the road trippers went to Batangas to experience the San Juan and Lechon Festival (to be posted soon). And as a side trip, going back home we’ve tried to at least visit some of the historical and old churches along the way. One of them is the Basilica de San Martin de Tours.

Basilica de San Martin de Tours

Basilica de San Martin de Tours is located in the town of Taal, Batangas considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia. Standing 96 metres long and 45 meteres wide, is the patron saint of Taal who’s fiesta is celebrated every 11th day of the November.

Basilica de San Martin de Tours

In 1575, construction of the church was started by Father Diego Espinar with Saint Martin of Tours as patron saint. It was then rebuilt in 1642 using stronger materials. However, in 1754, the church was destroyed along with the Town of Taal in the largest eruption of the Taal volcano. It was then that the town anf church were transferred further away from the volcano to its present site, which is elevated hill facing Balayan Bay. But still, the ruins of the previous church can be seen in San Nicolas, Batangas.

Basilica de San Martin de Tours
Basilica de San Martin de Tours

Father Martin Aguirre donated the land and began the construction of the new church in 1755. Then continued by Fr. Gabriel Rodriguez in 1777 and by Fr. Jose Vitoria in 1782. Fr. Ramon del Marco decorated the church, built the convent and paved the “processional” roa with bricks around the atrium, of the parochial building.

Basilica de San Martin de Tours Bell

Taal Basilica’s bell also considered as one the largest bell in the country. This massive instrument is 5.8 meters in circumference at the lip, 2.84 meters around the crown and 1.96 meters in height. However, in 1942, the belfry collapsed and bell fell from its location damaging and silencing it because of the earthquake. The king of the bell, as it was known before, is now hanging silently in its previous place on the restored dome.

Magnificent structure like Basilica de San Martin de Tours would be a romantic church for your wedding day. Ahhh.. Daydreaming again! Ha-ha.

That’s it, more blog post to come about my road trips. See you soon.



34 comments :

  1. One of the few churches I want to see. So majestic. Do you that this church is somewhat related to a Taoist temple in La Union?

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  2. Wow! What an enchanting church! So this was what I heard from my friend in Batangas. I hope I can see this in person when I get home in the Philippines.Pictures are are great too! :)

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  3. Wow, this church ha gone through so much but still it remained standing and beautiful. I wanted to see this place, putting it in my list already.

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  4. I've been in Taal, Batangas but missed out on this out. It does look so majestic and really old.

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  5. beautiful. now I wanna visit that place too soon!

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  6. Oh my! What a pretty church I wanna get married there! haha! Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Wow! This majestic church have withstood the test of time. If my free time ako, definitely I'll visit this site.

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  8. I'm from Batangas and I love being in those old churches!

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  9. This is the very church where my lovely brother and his wife walked the aisle to get married :) Super lovely church and very historical, Aylin :)

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  10. Beautiful pictures Aylin! I missed traveling around the country!


    The place is so near, but never got the chance to visit it.. will include this in my places to see. ;)

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  11. that is amazing! i would want to wander in philippines and see these gogroues churches and be amazed! tauyanm.com

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  12. Such a mystic old structure, its more of Gothic architecture than castillan in built. truly unique and savorry to the sight.

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  13. Your shots are postcard perfect. And look at the blue skies. Amazing! Very nice inner structure as well. And I agree this will be a good place for a "walk down the aisle."

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  14. hello just want to let you know that we featured your blog post and picture at our blog :) Should you want to take down the picture that I posted there just let me know, anyway a proper credit is mentioned.. Our fiesta is also dated December 9th..

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  15. what a beautfiul church! the interior is even heavenly <3 great post!! :) really good for you wedding day indeed :)

    Rovie,
    The Bargain Doll

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  16. Really?! Wow! A lovely, magical and majestic place that every girl would feel like a princess while walking the aisle. ^-^

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  17. Thank you Ruth! See you soon. ^-^

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  18. Haha! How i wished this will be the church for my wedding day... Thank you Rovie! ^-^

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  19. Thank you so much! I'm so grateful and honored to be featured on your site. ^-^

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  20. Yeah! Old churches are in beautiful architectural structures and rich in history! Thanks for dropping by Mary Jane. ^-^

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  21. Aw! Thank you! Followed you too. ^-^

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  22. Indeed! Thanks for the comment dear Y.B. ^-^

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  23. I enjoy going to Taal. It's very close to us kc.hehehe....

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  24. I've been to Taal a few times but I have yet to visit Basilica de San Martin de Tours. ^_^

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  25. Basilica de San Martin de Tours is something new for me. Even if I'm non-Catholic, this place is just so serene. I agree that it's a nice backdrop for weddings. :)

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  26. I'm actually from Taal and every summer when we were kids, my parents would bring us there. The Church hasn't changed much from what I remembered as a kid. The Taal Council takes care of the Basilica's maintenance and they do it well.

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  27. beautiful photos and great info...it really is so much fun to be visiting historical places especially churches where many have fervently prayed through the years...visiting here for the first time...I love your header so much :-)

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  28. I just came here too 2 weeks ago! I loved evrything in Taal. A sure must visit! Your photos are great! It captured the grandeur inside the church =)

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  29. Very beautiful pictures and totally inspirational. :)

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  30. oh really?! I'll try searching about it. Thanks! ^-^

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  31. That is one big and magnificent church! :)

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  32. Thanks for sharing about the Basilica! Explore more of Taal Heritage Town! Check out: www.taal.ph

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