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| Photo: Tourists entering Magellan's Cross. |
Magellan's Cross is a historical landmark and the most visited tourist spot in Cebu City. It is a Christian Cross made of wood erected by Ferdinand Magellan (a Portuguese explorer) during his exploration in Cebu, Philippines, on April 21, 1521. This Cross can be found inside an octagonal chapel in front of Cebu City Hall and beside Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. This is one of the most prominent tourist spots in Cebu. But, the current Cross is a tindalo wood where the splinters of the original Cross were encased. The wood of the original Cross deteriorated because the people were chipping some parts and making it as a souvenir in the belief that it was miraculous.
The History of Magellan's Cross:
- The chapel of this Cross is made from stone and was built in 1841. Then, the new Cross encasing the splinters of the old Cross was established in 1845. This location was where Cebu's Rajah Humabon, his wife Juana, and 800 followers were baptized on April 14, 1521, and was the very first Catholic mass in the Philippines. The chapel's ceiling shows how Ferdinand instructed the local laborers to build this structure. It also contains an image of how the people of Cebu were converted to Christianity. READ: My Solo-Backpacking and A Walking Tour in Cebu City
Other Things You Must Know:
- Address: 7WV2+CQG, P. Burgos St, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
- Opened: 1834
- Materials: Coral Stone
- Schedule: Closes at 6 PM
- Contact Number: (078) 945 6321