Follow us on
Best Local Places
The 10 Best Cultural Heritage Sites in Cebu You Can Explore in One Day, According to a Local
Uncover the cultural heritage of Cebu and immerse in its rich traditions and captivating history.
By: Peter Parcon | June 23, 2023
Discover Cebu’s history and culture through these places!
Images: Writer (L); Magellan’s Cross Facebook page
Cebu has more to offer than white sand beaches. It is also home to some historically significant structures and items. In many of these heritage sites in Cebu, these structures and artifacts are located close to each other. One fine sunny morning, I decided to go on a walking tour of the Queen City of the South.
1. Fort San Pedro
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entrance Fees: PhP30 (adults), PhP24 (seniors), PhP20 (students)
Fort San Pedro, the oldest triangular fort in the archipelago
Image: Writer
The first stop in our list of heritage sites in Cebu was Fuerza de San Pedro or Fort San Pedro, the smallest and oldest fort in the country. Miguel Lopez de Legazpi originally built the triangular fort with wood. Aside from having old metal cannons and coral stone walls of this cultural heritage in Cebu, the fort also houses a museum with Spanish-era artifacts on display.
2. Magellan's Cross
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entrance Fee: None
You can see a mural depicting the first mass in the archipelago at Magellan’s Cross
Image: Magellan’s Cross Facebook page
After roaming around this heritage site in Cebu, I decided to walk to Magellan’s Cross. This historical heritage in Cebu is located in front of Cebu City Hall, less than a kilometer from the fort. Magellan’s Cross is the Christian cross planted by Ferdinand Magellan after Rajah Humabon and Queen Juana were baptized in 1521. This cultural heritage in Cebu, the original cross, is housed inside the wooden one you can see in the kiosk. The ceiling features of this heritage site in Cebu is a painting of the first mass in the Philippines.
3. Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu
Operating Hours: Daily, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Entrance Fees: PhP30 (adults), PhP15 (seniors), PhP10 (kids and students)
You can find the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Cebu City
Image: Writer
After Magellan’s Cross, my next stop was the Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño de Cebu is one of the heritage sites in Cebu, which is a few steps away from the kiosk. Santo Niño Church, one of the cultural heritage in Cebu, was built on the spot where Juan Camus, a sailor in Miguel Lopez de Legazpi’s fleet, found the original image of the Child Jesus in 1565. Right before the church is the Pilgrim Center, where novena masses are held for the annual Sinulog Festival. This heritage site in Cebu is located in the basement of the center. The museum displays the historical heritage of Cebu, like the centuries-old church documents, relics, and statues of different saints.
4. Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral
Operating Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Entrance Fees: PhP100 (foreigners), PhP50 (locals), PhP25 (students)
The structure of the Cebu Cathedral Museum survived the World War 2 bombing.
Image: Writer
Just a block away is also one of the heritage sites in Cebu, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the ecclesiastical seat of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cebu. Right across the road from this cultural heritage in Cebu is the Cebu Cathedral Museum. The museum houses religious artifacts from the Spanish era up to the present. It was one of the few structures to survive the bombing of Cebu in World War 2.
5. Plaza Hamabar
Operating Hours: Daily, 24/7
Entrance Fee: None
Rajah Humabon is depicted sitting on his throne while surveying his kingdom.
Image: Writer
My next stop was Plaza Hamabar, a heritage site in Cebu before the museum. Sri Hamabar, or Rajah Humabon, was the native chieftain who welcomed Magellan to Cebu. He was considered as the bravest and wisest man in Cebu. A statue of the rajah is a cultural heritage in Cebu that stands in the middle of Plaza Hamabar.
6. Colon Street Obelisk
Operating Hours: Daily, 24/7
Entrance Fee: None
The obelisk stands silently at the end of the oldest street in the country.
Image: Writer
Continuing with the tour of heritage sites in Cebu, I walked around 300 meters along the road between Plaza Hamabar and the Cathedral Museum to get to the Colon Street Obelisk. The obelisk stands at the end of the oldest street in the Philippines. The marker of this historical heritage in Cebu features a short history of the street named after Christopher Columbus or Cristobal Colon.
The obelisk is on an island in the middle of a major intersection, so watch out for passing jeepneys when planning to visit this heritage site in Cebu.
7. Cebu Heritage Monument
Operating Hours: Daily, 24/7
Entrance Fee: None
The Cebu Heritage Monument is best viewed at night.
Image: Writer
The Cebu Heritage Monument was my next stop on our cultural heritage tour in Cebu. This heritage site in Cebu is located right across the obelisk. The monument showcases some significant events in the history of Cebu. Among the scenes depicted on the monument are the baptism of Rajah Humabon and the Battle of Mactan. Local artist Eduardo Castrillo made the larger-than-life sculptures.
8. Jesuit House Museum
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Entrance Fees: PhP100 (adults), PhP50 (students)
You can find the Jesuit House Museum inside Ho Tong Hardware.
Image: Writer
After the Cebu Heritage Monument, I walked to the Jesuit House Museum or the Museo de Parian, one of the heritage sites in Cebu that you must visit. It is housed inside the warehouse of Ho Tong Hardware. The museum is one of the oldest structures in the country; the galleries house Spanish-era artifacts, pre-and post-war items, and antiques showing the rich Filipino-Chinese history of Cebu. This place is a cultural heritage in Cebu that was once the residence of the Jesuit Superior in Cebu.
9. Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 6:00 PM; Sunday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entrance Fees: PhP100 (adults), PhP50 (seniors and students)
The Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House offers a glimpse of the past.
Image: Writer
Next in the itinerary, a worthy heritage site in Cebu that you must visit is the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House, a bahay na bato (stone house) which has stood the test of time. The structure of this historical heritage in Cebu is the ancestral house of the Yap-Sandiego family which was converted into a museum. It houses antiques from the Spanish period. The structure of this cultural heritage in Cebu is a sight to see. The house, made of hardwood and coral stone, gave me the feeling of being transported back in time.
10. Casa Gorordo Museum
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Entrance Fees: PhP50 (adults), PhP70 (foreigners), PhP15 (students)
The four walls of the Casa Gorordo Museum are silent witnesses to the history of Cebu.
Image: Writer
The Casa Gorordo Museum is a heritage site in Cebu located just around the corner from the Yap-Sandiego Ancestral House. This Spanish-era structure was once the home of the first Cebuano bishop, Bishop Juan Gorordo. The museum is now owned and managed by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., and is one of the mainstays of the annual Gabii sa Kabilin (Night of Heritage). Visitors can join a guided interactive tour of the museum.
With its artifacts and centuries-old structures, visitors can learn a thing or two when they go on a walking tour at these heritage sites in Cebu.
Visit Yoorekka Magazine for more exciting travel destinations in Cebu and Bohol!
Stay safe as you travel! Follow social distancing protocols and observe health precautions wherever you go. Have a great trip!
This article was initially published in Yoorekka on November 02, 2017.
Rates may change without prior notice.
Check out this video:
About Peter Parcon
After leaving spending 16 years of his professional life in the academe, Peter decided to try his luck in the world of online freelancing. For the past eight years, he has been creating content for clients all around the world. He can work on just about any topic - from tattoos to technology and food to finance. He dreams of visiting every island in the archipelago some day.
Learn more stories on:
Location Tags:
Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are
for general information and entertainment purposes only. Although
careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not
make any warranty about the completeness and accuracy of all
information presented in our articles. Our content is not intended
to be used in place of legal, medical, or any professional advice.
ALSO READ
CATEGORIES
VIDEO MARKET PLACE
FOLLOW US ON
MORE STORIES AROUND THE PHILIPPINES
