St. Andrew the Apostle Parish (Bacarra Church) — Attraction in Ilocos Norte

We had the chance to stop by Bacarra Church, and although the visit was brief due to our guided tour’s tight schedule, it still left a remarkable impression. I was able to see the interior, though I didn’t have enough time to truly absorb its beauty and details. The atmosphere inside was peaceful, and you could tell how much history and devotion the church holds.

What stood out the most was the bell tower, famously known as the "Acrobatic Bell Tower" because of its slightly leaning structure. Seeing it in person was awe-inspiring. It’s amazing that despite surviving centuries of earthquakes—including a major one in 1983 that caused part of the tower to collapse—it has been carefully preserved. It’s now considered a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.

The church itself, originally built in 1593 by Augustinian friars, is made from coral stone and bricks—a typical feature of Spanish-era churches in Ilocos. Its enduring presence is a living testament to Filipino craftsmanship and faith that has stood through war, natural disasters, and time.

Even though we only had a short time here, Bacarra Church felt like a sacred bridge to the past. I hope to return again someday and explore it more deeply...

Also called the Domeless Bell Tower or the Leaning Bell Tower, it was damaged by periodic earthquakes from 1931 to 1971 and 1983. It started to lean after the 1971 earthquake and its dome was completely toppled by a strong quake in 1983.

It's easy to find the church using Google Maps. The domeless tower can be seen from the top of the bridge on the way to the place. It was full of people when we came here to do our Visita Iglesia and we parked a bit far from the church. The bell tower was under repair and it was off limits. But luckily we were able to take good pictures...

A church established by the Agustinian order in 1593 at the site claimed to be where the hut of a former Apayao chieftain was located. Lesser known than it's belfry the church has a wide roundabout frontage and stuck beside it is the former convent which is now a museum. Highly recommended that one drops here to pray for safe travels or just admire...