Friday, January 08, 2010

Danao's Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church

I passed by this church while riding a bus from Cebu City to Bantayan Island so I took a mental note that I will visit this church on my way back from Bantayan. And that is just what I did. So, from Hagnaya, I ask the conductor to drop me in that beautiful, ancient church in Danao.

The façade of the church as viewed from the highway is just awesome. Faded coral bricks that seem to absorb rather than reflect the rays of the sun define the church from the outside. Looking at the church will instantly made you feel that you are transported back in time.

An arched door in between two arched windows and a line of six white angel statues are prominent features of the church but its main draw definitely are those large off-white coral bricks that made up the façade of the church and its bell-tower.

Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church is considered as one of the finest church buildings in Cebu. The gracious, coral-stone church was built in 1755 and restored from near ruin in 1981. While the interiors are not that fancy, its modern marble finish and its white vaulted ceiling is well worth a look.

Santo Tomas de Villanueva Church


Santo Tomas de Villanueva Bell Tower


Guardian Angels


Thick Coral Bricks


Side View


Church Interiors


Nearby Rizal Park

To go there; take a north-bound bus from Cebu City in the Cebu North bus station. These buses pass through Danao City in about an hour. Get-off at the plaza beside the church because stopping at the road in front of the church is prohibited.

20 comments:

  1. If I were to say, Cebu really has lots of churches that need to be discovered, when we were there, we wanted to take shots of churches, only, malapit ang sun sa Cebu, super init dun.

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  2. I've been to this church a long time ago. I was looking for inspiration for an angel sculpture that we were developing for an American client. A supplier took me to a restaurant in Danao and then I saw this church.:p

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  3. eto na namn ang great pics ni attorney! laway!!!!

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  4. Nice church. I love the facade.

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  5. Wonderful church. Thank you for sharing images of your beautiful country.

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  6. Cebu being the island where the Spanish first landed has one of the best collections of Spanish churches and architecture ;) Nice shots bro.

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  7. Hi Norman! Everything ok with you?
    Impressive structure...
    Have a great weekend!

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  8. as usual. great pics. i spent 5 years in cebu and i wasn't able to visit that church. dang!

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  9. interesting coral brick church..
    nice!

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  10. interesting coral brick church..
    nice!

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  12. the guardian angels look like new additions to the church.

    that belltower is lovely and imposing.

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  14. I like old, hispanic churches. The ones you featured here are beautiful. Nice shots. :)

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  15. we have lots of churches na taken for granted. :) nice that you featured this one. cebu does have very interesting old structures.

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  16. This is such a wonderful church. I live in Cebu City but I haven't been to this church yet. =)

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  17. thanks for appreciating our church in Danao :) I hope that Danao will not only be known as Gun-maker Capital but also as a lovely city with great history ^_^
    -Gil S. Nazareno
    AB Philosophy

    http://be-paid-to-click-advertisements.blogspot.com/

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