Overview
San Sebastian Church in Quiapo is the only all-steel church in Asia and one of only two prefabricated steel churches in the world. Designed by Genaro Palacios and fabricated in Belgium, its Gothic Revival structure was assembled in Manila between 1886 and 1891.
Highlights
- All-Steel Construction: Every structural element — columns, arches, walls, and roof — is made of prefabricated steel plates bolted together.
- Stained-Glass Windows: Twenty-seven stained-glass windows imported from the Henri Oidtmann studio in Germany, depicting saints and biblical scenes.
- Painted Interior: Trompe-l'oeil ceiling frescoes by Lorenzo Rocha and Lorenzo Guerrero simulate a vaulted stone cathedral.
History
After two earlier churches on the site were destroyed by fire and earthquakes, Augustinian Recollect friars commissioned the steel church from Belgian workshops in the 1880s. The parts were shipped to Manila and assembled without welding. It was designated a National Historical Landmark in 1973.
Visitor Tips
- Tip 1: Free entry. Best visited in the morning when natural light illuminates the stained-glass windows.
- Tip 2: The church is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List — look for the distinctive mint-green exterior.
- Duration: 20–30 minutes.