Saint Matias Parish Church (Tumauini Church) — Attraction in Isabela

GOING HISTORICAL™️

TUMAUNI CHURCH (St. Matthias), c. 1707 Iglesia Parroquia de Apostol San Matias 📌 Tumauini, Isabela

"THE LARGEST CAKE CHURCH IN THE WORLD"

Tumauini was founded in 1707 where the first church was made of nipa and light materials. However, the ultra-baroque brick church we see today was constructed in 1783 and was finished in 1805.

St. Matthias' unique cylindrical bell tower is the only one of its kind in the country built during the Spanish era.

Partly damaged during World War II, Tumauini Church was declared as a National Historical Landmark by presidential decree in 1989.

The Saint Matthias Church of Tumauini is also on the tentative list to become one of the UNESCO baroque churches in the Philippines.

On July 31, 2001, due to its cultural heritage importance to the Filipino people, the National Museum designated this extraordinary church as a National Cultural Treasure.

For more historical churches, press the hashtag #GoingHistorical.

#IsabelaTourism #TumauiniChurch #TumauiniIsabela #TworismoSaLambak...

The church was built under the supervision of Dominican Domingo Forto in 1783 and later continued by priest Antonio Herrera in 1788. It was completed in 1805.

During World War II, it suffered damage, but a reconstruction program preserved many of its original architectural features.

The building is constructed in an ornate design using red bricks on each facade.

A notable feature is its cylindrical bell tower, built in 1805, which is often compared to a wedding cake due to its tiered structure.

The church was declared a National Cultural Treasure and later designated as a National Historical Landmark in 1989.

It has also been considered for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Philippines under the classification of Baroque Churches of the...

The church's walls are entirely composed of brick. The façade is a stunning exhibition of decorated brick put out in a distinctive style. Customized bricks were numbered and arranged to match the walls. The inside of the church, like the outside, is veneered with decorated brickwork. The inner wall's upper half is made up of ornately sculpted brick blocks.

The church's bell tower is cylindrical. The complex is surrounded by brick walls that are adorned in the same way as the rest of the cathedral. The monastery is currently in ruins on the Gospel side...