What Are The Famous Landmarks In The Philippines?

The Philippines is located in the western Pacific Ocean. The country has a population of over 106 million people and the country has over 7,500 islands a lot of them uninhabited. With that, the country is blessed with amazing beaches, amazing scenery, history, and more. But what are the famous landmarks in the Philippines?

The Philippines is blessed with landmarks across the country. These can be created naturally such as active volcanoes or from the Philippines’ historic past particularly from the 333 years of Spanish rule. There are a number of landmarks in the Philippines you should consider visiting when exploring the Philippines.

In this post, we will go through what are the famous landmarks in the Philippines. Let’s get started!

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Famous Landmarks In The Philippines

The Philippines is blessed with beautiful landscapes, beaches, and active volcanoes. As well as that the Philippines is filled with a history going back over 300 years since Spanish rule.

Here is a list of the famous landmarks in the Philippines.

• Chocolate Hills.
• Mayon Mayon.
• Banaue Rice Terraces.
• Tubbataha Reefs.
• Fort Santiago.
• Paco Park.
• Calle Crisologo.
• Intramuros.
• MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial Park.
• Shrine of Valor.
• Binondo Manila.
• Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine.

Chocolate Hills

The Chocolate Hills are a natural formation that is located in the Bohol province of the Philippines. It is a cluster of 1,260 haycock hills but there may be as many as 1,776 hills. The hills are a unique sight to see and are something that can not be found in any other part of the world.

For the best breathtaking view of 360 degrees of the whole area of 50 square kilometers dotted by these half-sphere hills, you can climb up the view deck which has 250 steps.

The Philippine Tourism Authority has listed this as a tourist destination. With that, they have been declared the country’s third National Geological Monument and it has been proposed for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Mount Mayon

This is an active volcano in the province of Albay on the island of Luzon. This volcano is the most active volcano in the Philippines. In 1938 it was declared a national park which was the first in the Philippines. This is a popular tourist destination.

It is shaped almost like a perfect cone if it was not for the huge dent that is its crater caused by repetitive eruptions almost every year. You can choose to explore Mayon Volcano National Park by hiking along the volcano’s base and taking an ATV tour.

Banaue Rice Terraces

The Banaue Rice Terraces are located in Ifugao in the Philippines and are carved into the mountains of Banaue. The terraces are often referred to as the Eighth Wonder of the World. It was also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.

It is commonly believed that the terraces were built largely by hand and are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. Still to this day the locals grow their rice and vegetables on the terraces.

Tubbataha Reefs

The Tubbataha Reefs is a marine park that is a protected area of the Philippines that is located in the middle of the Sulu Sea. It covers an area of 96,828 hectares. In December 1993, UNESCO declared the Tubbataha Reefs National Park a World Heritage Site because of the reef and its very high density of marine species.

You will see a nesting site for birds and marine turtles as well as a pristine coral reef with a spectacular 100-meter perpendicular wall with extensive lagoons, and two coral islands.

Fort Santiago

This fort was built in 1593. Its was the first built by Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi. This fortress is located in Intramuros which is the walled city of Manila. And is only a few meters away from the Manila Cathedral. The fort is one of the most important historical sites in Manila.

The fort was important regarding the Philippines ‘ independence. Where the Philippines’ national hero José Rizal was imprisoned here before he was executed in 1896. At the fort, he will see where he was imprisoned.

Paco Park

Today this park is a historic urban park that is located in Ermita, Manila, it covers an area of 58 hectares. It was originally known as Bagumbayan during the Spanish colonial. This historic park played an important role in the Philippines’ history with the execution of Filipino hero José Rizal in 1896.

The park was officially named in his honor. This is where the declaration of Philippine independence from the United States was held here in 1946. It is also used for political rallies.

Calle Crisologo

The old cobblestones are one of the things that make Vigan’s Calle Crisologo uniquely Filipino. Particularly at night time, the street comes to life with loads of food vendors, and delicacies available.

Walking the street gives you a first-hand experience of the Philippines’ Spanish era as it still was a Spanish architecture and style.

Until now, the windows made from capiz shells and the red-tiled roofs have been carefully preserved, something that you can not find anywhere else. You will feel like you have been taken back to the 18^th century when you take a stroll along the lanes lit with lamps.

Intramuros

Intramuros is a historic walled area within the city of Manila. This is a historic district surrounded by fortifications. Within the fortified walls, there were churches, monasteries, convents, schools, and houses. Until 1945 during World War 2.

There was a battle in Manila between American, Filipino, and Japanese forces where there was heavy fighting. That resulted in Intramuros being heavily destroyed. Many of the city’s ancient gates and most of the walls have since been restored but there has been a problem switching funding.

MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial Park

This memorial park commemorates the historic landing of General Douglas MacArthur on 20 October 1944, which celebrates the landing of General MacArthur and the start of the battle to recapture and liberation the Philippines from Japanese occupation. This is also a protected park.

Shrine Of Valor

The Shrine of Valor is a historical shrine located near the top of Mount Samat in the town of Pilár in the province of Bataan. This shrine was built as a memorial complex to honor and remember the Filipino and American soldiers who fought against the Japanese Army during World War 2.

In 1966 is when the park was commissioned by President Ferdinand Marcos for the 25th Anniversary of World War 2. The shrine has a war museum that has an array of artifacts, and equipment used by the Filipino, American, and Japanese forces during the Battle of Bataan.

Binondo Manila

Binondo is simply a Chinatown district in Manila. It has been a Chinese hub even before the Spanish colonial period. It was established back in 1594, and it is considered to be the oldest Chinatown in the world.

Today, Binondo is very colorful surrounded by lots of Chinese decorations, parades, and so on. Any Chinatown would not be complete without trying the food trip. The place can be a little bit crazy even confusing. You will also see horse-drawn carriages jeepneys, taxis, tricycles, food carts, and vendors.

Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine

This is a shrine to Emilio F. Aguinaldo that is located in Kawit in Cavite. It was the home of Emilio F. Aguinaldo who was officially the first President of the Philippines, and the only president of the First Philippine Republic.

This mansion in Kawit, Cavite also became the site where the Philippine Independence from Spanish rule was declared in 1898. The shrine is a museum filled with significant artifacts of the historic event.

Wrapping Up

Finally, there are several famous landmarks in the Philippines that you should try and visit. These are only a few but as you can see you can hike up an active volcano to see World War 2 sites such as MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial Park to the historic sites regarding the country’s independence from Spanish rule.

And that’s it for now! I’d love it if this post on what are the famous landmarks in the Philippines was helpful to you. Let me know if you have any questions and let me know if there is more to add.

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