World wide, yow will discover landmarks and vacationer spots which have that distinction of being known as UNESCO World Heritage Websites. These spots are chosen by the United Nations Instructional, Scientific and Cultural Group (UNESCO) as having excessive cultural, historic, scientific or different types of significance, and develop into legally protected by worldwide treaties.
As of January 2024, there are a complete of 1,199 World Heritage Websites (933 cultural, 227 pure, and 39 combined properties) scattered round 168 nations. I do know it’s a objective for some vacationers to have the ability to go to as many of those traditionally vital spots all over the world. Consider it as a long-term journey quest. Hey, if in case you have the money and time to perform that difficult feat, why not, proper?
Within the Philippines, there are 6 designated UNESCO World Heritage Websites together with 3 cultural websites and 3 pure websites. Nonetheless, two of the cultural websites are grouped as a collective (4 church buildings and 5 rice terraces) and one of many pure websites is extremely laborious to get and solely accessible to divers due to its remoted location.
Right here’s a clickable map and I’m itemizing the websites beneath so as of their accessibility from the capital Manila for reference.
The Baroque Church buildings of the Philippines refers to 4 baroque church buildings all constructed throughout the Spanish colonial period which had been all inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage Website checklist in 1993. These church buildings are all thought-about as nationwide treasures for his or her historic and cultural significance. These church buildings might be discovered within the capital Metro Manila, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Iloilo.
San Agustin Church in Manila
For these based mostly in Manila, one of many best to go to is the San Agustin Church in Intramuros.
The San Agustin Church has stood the take a look at of time and conflict because it’s the one church inside Intramuros that remained standing after World Battle II, which closely broken the walled metropolis.
Proper subsequent to the church is the San Agustin Church Museum, which particulars the church’s wealthy historical past.
As a part of the fiftieth Anniversary of the World Heritage Conference, a brand new UNESCO marker was put in in 2024 in entrance of the church. The patio, which was a automotive parking space, has been reclaimed as a public house, as half of a bigger pedestrianization plan within the Intramuros space.
READ MORE ABOUT INTRAMUROS HERE.
Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte
In the event you’re heading up north to Ilocos Norte, you possibly can go to the Saint Augustine Church or Paoay Church, one of many oldest church buildings within the nation. Building of this church started in 1694. Made up largely of coral stones and bricks, the Paoay Church was closely broken by two earthquakes however was ultimately restored.
Essentially the most putting characteristic of this church are the 24 enormous buttresses that measure 1.67 meters (5.5 ft) thick on the sides and again of the church constructing. Extending from the outside partitions, this design was conceived to forestall the constructing’s destruction on account of earthquakes.
Santa Maria Church in Ilocos Sur
You’ll find one other UNESCO church within the neighboring province of Ilocos Sur. The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion is also referred to as the Santa Maria Church. In response to locals, the picture of the Virgin Mary that was initially enshrined in a unique church saved disappearing, just for individuals to seek out it perched on a Guava tree that stood the place the Santa Maria Church is presently situated.
Miagao Church in Iloilo
Named after the patron saint of the parish, the Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Miagao, Iloilo is among the most stunning Baroque church buildings within the nation.
Accomplished in 1797, this church served as a defensive fort for the city of Miag-ao throughout the Spanish period. Try these extremely detailed carvings.
The city of Vigan in Ilocos Sur is among the finest preserved colonial cities in Asia. The structure and planning within the city is preserved from the time of the Spanish colonization within the nation throughout the sixteenth century.
Except for the structure, the cobblestone streets of Vigan is one other instance of a colonial affect that continues to be intact till at this time. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 1999.
Vigan is a well-liked vacationer city and fairly simple to get to by bus from Manila and discover on foot when you get there. There are numerous cafes, church buildings, eating places, and museums you possibly can go to all inside strolling distance on this city.
The Rice Terraces of the Philippines Cordilleras, all of which might be discovered within the province of Ifugao, had been named a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 1995 for his or her cultural significance. One of the best ways to entry these sights is to take a direct bus from Manila to Banaue (not Baguio, which is one other 6 hours away).
Whereas you may get a glimpse of some terraces from the varied viewpoints situated alongside the principle freeway within the Banaue city correct, the 5 designated websites included within the UNESCO inscription (Batad & Bangaan in Banaue, Nagacadan Rice Terraces in Kiangan, Hungduan Rice Terraces and Mayoyao Rice Terraces) require a bit extra journey time to get to.
The one technique to admire the Batad Rice Terraces is by mountain climbing right down to the village.
In Banaue, you possibly can discover Batad Village, the situation of the amphitheater rice terraces that are 1,100 m in elevation.
A extra accessible website to motorized transport is Bangaan Rice Terraces, additionally in Banaue.
Different rice terraces which were given UNESCO safety embrace the Nagacadan Rice Terraces in Kiangan, Hungduan Rice Terraces and Mayoyao Rice Terraces.
The rice terraces showcase the complicated technique of farming employed by the native Ifugao who lived within the space.
It’s believed that the rice terraces took about 2,000 years to finish because the rice terraces carved out the slopes of the mountains. It additionally took a whole group to keep up these residing rice terraces.
Palawan is dwelling to 2 pure UNESCO World Heritage websites, essentially the most simply accessible of which is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Nationwide Park, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 1999.
That is generally referred to by vacationers because the Underground River.
The nationwide park is situated inside a cave that you should journey by boat. The cave dome measures at about 300 meters in size whereby it’s full of river channels, rock formations, and a deep water gap.
Except for being acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Website, it was additionally named as one of many New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011.
The Underground River is among the hottest vacationer spots to go to from Puerto Princesa and hassle-free bundle excursions might be simply organized by motels or booked on-line. E-book excursions right here.
Positioned within the Japanese Mindanao Biodiversity Hall, the Mount Hamiguitan Vary Wildlife Sanctuary in Davao Oriental, Mindanao is among the latest pure heritage websites within the Philippines, having simply been enlisted into the UNESCO World Heritage Websites checklist in 2014.
Among the many mountains of Davao Oriental, Mount Hamiguitan is dubbed the province’s “crowning glory.” Towering at an elevation of 1,637 meters above sea stage, this mountain is dwelling to a various vary of wildlife species. There are additionally a number of endangered and endemic species discovered inside the sanctuary.
Mt. Hamiguitan is a serious climb that can require 3 days to summit. There’s a strict coverage limiting the variety of trekkers climbing and tenting within the protected space. All hikers must coordinate upfront with the DENR’s Protected Space Superintendent’s Workplace in San Isidro, Davao Oriental so that you can get a allow to climb.
Essentially the most troublesome and costly to get to of all of the UNESCO World Heritage Websites within the Philippines is Tubbataha Reefs Pure Park, situated on the coronary heart of the Sulu Sea close to Palawan. It was acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Website in 1993. This pure park is a protected space of 97,030 hectares.
The islands belonging to the Tubbataha Reefs Pure Park are uninhabited. It primarily serves as a nesting website for marine turtles and varied species of birds and is finest identified for its pristine coral reef system.
Due to its remoted location, Tubbataha can solely be visited on a liveaboard boat. Divers can expertise the reefs’ wonderful underwater surroundings, beautiful biodiversity and encounter massive marine animals equivalent to sharks, turtles and manta rays.
All these different websites simply present how wonderful the Philippines is. I finally hope to hike up Mt. Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental and dive in Tubbataha Reef someday throughout my lifetime. However past these acknowledged and world-renowned websites, there’s much more to find within the Philippines.
Except for the key websites, there are a further 25 websites on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative Listing within the Philippines as of February 2024. This consists of:
- Batanes Protected landscapes and seascapes, Batanes (1993)
- The Tabon Cave Complicated and of Lipuun, West Coast of Palawan (2006)
- Butuan Archaeological Websites (2006)
- Baroque Church buildings of the Philippines (Extension) (2006)
- Chocolate Hills Pure Monument, Bohol (2006)
- Mt. Malindang Vary Pure Park, Misamis Occidental (2006)
- Mt. Pulag Nationwide Park (2006)
- Apo Reef Pure Park, Occidental Mindoro (2006)
- El Nido-Taytay Managed Useful resource Protected Space, Palawan (2006)
- Coron Island Pure Biotic Space, Palawan (2006)
- Mt. Iglit-Baco Nationwide Park, Mindoro (2006)
- Northern Sierra Madre Pure Park and outlying areas inclusive of the buffer zone (2006)
- Mt. Mantalingahan Protected Panorama, Palawan (2015)
- Mayon Volcano Pure Park, Albay (2015)
- Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary, Sulu & Tawi-Tawi (2015)
- The Sugar Cultural Panorama of Negros and Panay Islands (2024)
- The Historic Cities and Panorama of Taal Volcano and its Caldera Lake (2024)
- Colonial City Plan and Fortifications of the Walled Metropolis of Manila (2024)
- Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary (2024)
- Kitanglad and Kalatungan Mountain Ranges: Sacred Websites of Bukidnon (2024)
- Samar Island Pure Park (2024)
- Prehistoric Websites of the Cagayan Valley Basin (2024)
- Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras (Extension) – (2024)
- Mount Hamiguitan Vary Wildflife Sanctuary (Extension) Pujada Bay (2024)
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