Traveling
to Naga City with the family is a great idea. The Philippines’
Bicol Region brims with myriad destinations to experience. Naga City
tourist spots are pretty varied: travelers will find both historical
and modern attractions. If you and your family want to have a glimpse
of the rich heritage of the Queen City of Bicol, make it a point to
visit these places:
Naga
Metropolitan Cathedral
First
built in 1595, the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral and Parish of Saint
John the Evangelist is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of
Caceres. It has quite a history of misfortunes: gutted down by a fire
in 1768, damaged in an earthquake in 1820, ravaged by a typhoon in
1856, and destroyed by an earthquake once more in 1887. The cathedral
has been in numerous states of renovation, yet it has kept its
Spanish Romanesque Revival architecture intact.
Porta
Mariae
This
arch in front of the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral was built to
commemorate the 300 years of the Bicolanos’ devotion to the Our
Lady of Peñafrancia. At the top of this 35-foot-high edifice is a
brass image of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia with two angels on each
side.
Peñafrancia
Basilica Minore
This
Neoclassical church, which began construction in 1976 but was
completed only in 1981, is a popular attraction especially among
Marian pilgrims. It houses the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary
sculpted in 1710. Aside from the Marian image, its stained glass
windows and hand-painted ceilings take tourists’ breath away.
San
Francisco Church
Built
in 1578, this is the first church established by the Franciscan
friars in Southeast Asia. San Francisco Church is a significant site
because its infirmary and basement was used as torture halls for
Filipinos during the Filipino-Spanish War in 1896, and was also the
last place of refuge of the Spaniards when the Spanish colonial rule
in Bicol ended in 1898.
The
original structure of the church was destroyed; only the belfry
remains to witness the transformation of Naga up to this day.
Plaza
Quince Martires
A
popular landmark located in the heart of Naga City and fronting the
San Francisco Church, the monument is dedicated to the 15 Bicolano
martyrs who fought against the Spaniards during the Philippine
Revolution. It stands as the symbol of the pride and heroism of the
Bicolanos.
Holy
Rosary Minor Seminary
Constructed
in 1785, this seminary is famous for its prominent graduates that
include Revolution personalities Jose Ma. Panganiban and Tomas
Arejola; as well as Jorge Barlin, the first Filipino Catholic bishop.
The
structure, featuring a distinct colonial architecture with Italian
Renaissance ornamentation, was declared a National Historical
Landmark. It also houses the Museo del Seminario Conciliar de Nueva
Caceres, which contains religious and archeological artifacts.
Visiting
these attractions in Naga City may take a toll on your body, so it’s
important to book a comfortable accommodation. And one of the hotels
in Naga City that can serve as an ideal stopover and starting point
for exploration is Villa Caceres Hotel. Besides offering cozy
lodgings, it also has a Family Suite Hot Deal that slashes 30% off
the rate of the Family Suite when checking in anytime from June 1 to
30, 2018. The deal is also inclusive of breakfast, round-trip airport
shuttle service, access to the Health Resort Club, and Wi-Fi access.
Booking period for the Family Suite Hot Deal is
from May 10 to June 10, 2018 only, so reserve immediately and secure
a budget-friendly accommodation as you discover the best Naga City
tourist spots.
Know
more about Villa Caceres Hotel by logging on to
www.villacacereshotel-naga.com.
