Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

Travel throwback! Taal-Vigan of the South…
Learn about Taal’s glorious past, its heroes, and its role in the Philippine Revolution. Travel through time as you explore Taal’s collection of restored Bahay na Batos, 19^th century Filipino-Spanish adobe stone homes.  Admire the architectural beauty, like the classic capiz windows, gorgeous Philippine hardwoods, and the unique antique decor.
- See more at: http://www.taal.ph/places-of-interest/places-to-visit/#sthash.boY3zVwO.dpuf

The Basilica of St. Martin of Tours, designed  by the famed Spanish architect Don Luciano Oliver, stands 95 meters long and 45 meters wide on a plateau in the heart of Taal. The adobe stone slabs which make up the whole structure were dug up in a nearby barrio and painstakingly carried by menfolk on an uphill climb to the church site. When household duties were done, the women and children also helped carry sand in their aprons and handkerchiefs from the seashore to the place of construction.  This massive structure of stone was held together by lime and not cement. It has withstood the onslaught of the elements within a period of more than 100 years, rebuilt in 1850′s. The structure took shape in the period of ten (10) years.

The façade resembles St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, with its Ionic columns.  The original ceiling was painted by Giovanni Dibella, one of two Italian artists who painted the ceiling of San Agustin Church.  The style is trompel’oeil or “trick of the eye” which gives a 3-dimensional effect. 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.

San Martin de Tours is a baroque style basilica built in the 18th century. Covering a little less than half a hectare of ground area, it still stands majestically today and is considered the oldest and largest church in the Orient. A steep and narrow passageway through its belfry grants visitors a grand view from the church’s rooftop.

The Taal Basilica canonically known as the Minor Basilica of Saint Martin of Tours

The church was then restored in 1953 in preparation for the Canonical Coronation of the Our Lady of Caysasay. The following year on December 8, 1954, the church was declared as a Minor Basilica, the third in the country to be given such honor. The church was again restored in 1972 by the Taal Quadricentennial Council for the 400th anniversary of the town's establishment. By Presidential Decree No. 375 on January 16, 1974, the church was declared a National Shrine.
The old belfry was later rebuilt in 1990 under the supervision of the National Historical Institute. In 2011, upon the assignment of Msgr. Alfredo Madlangbayan, the Basilica underwent another renovation as sections the church interior were repainted to its original trompe l'oeil ceilings. The tower was also modified to imitate the old tower destroyed by the earthquake of 1942, a new set of carillon bells was later installed. The renovations was completed in November that same year. It is considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia, standing 88.6 metres (291 ft) long and 48 metres (157 ft) wide. St. Martin of Tours is the patron saint of Taal, whose fiesta is celebrated every November 11.