The Basilica of St. Martin of Tours stands 95 meters long and 45 meters wide on a plateau in the heart of Taal. The façade resembles St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Its tabernacle is made of silver, the only one of its kind in the Philippines. It was declared as a national shrine on January 16, 1974.
Originally built in an area that is now San Nicolas town in 1575, the basilica was destroyed in the 1754 eruption of Taal volcano. It was built in its present location in 1755 by the Augustinian missionaries and was damaged anew in an 1849 earthquake. Rebuilt from 1856 to 1865 during the time of the parish priest Fray Marcos Anton, it was designed by the Spanish architect Luciano Oliver. It stands majestically today once reputed as the oldest and biggest church in the Orient.
Genesis Brzostowski
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Antonio P. Serrano, M.D.
/ February 2, 2011I went to OLCA in 1953 and had my first communion in this church. I could still remember between 1953 and 1955 when construction were done on the front part of the church.
Vic Dimagiba
/ February 21, 2011Was there over the weekend with my wife, and it still looks stunning and majestic as we had last seen it some 8 years ago.
Kei Maristela
/ February 25, 2011It is my pride to have been raised at Taal. With its rich cultural heritage and astonishing Hispanic art and architecture, I am in a nostalgic memory lane. I also had my Pre-elementary up to Highshool studies at OLCA and celebrate my first communion and graduation at this church. It has always been memorable and solemn.