Description of the attraction
Magellan's Cross is a Christian cross erected on the island of Cebu in 1521 by Portuguese and Spanish sailors on the orders of Fernand Magellan. Magellan himself was a Portuguese working for the Spanish king. It was he who was the first European to set foot on the land of the Philippines. Unfortunately, he died here - he was killed by the leader of one of the local tribes in the struggle for power over the island of Mactan. Magellan ordered to erect a wooden cross to perpetuate a significant event - the adoption of Christianity by the local Muslim Raja Humabon, his wife and numerous soldiers.
Today, the Magellan's Cross is one of the main attractions of the city of Cebu, the capital of the island, and its symbol depicted on the city seal. The cross is located on Magallanos Street in a small chapel next to the Basilica of Santo Niño, the oldest church in the Philippines, and right in front of the city hall. The octagon-shaped brick chapel was specially built to hold the cross in 1834. It is customary to light candles and leave coins at the foot of the cross.
A tablet installed at the base of the cross in the center of the chapel says that the cross that the Europeans brought to the island of Cebu is inside this wooden one. This was done specifically in order to protect the historical relic from those who want to pinch off a piece as a souvenir, as well as from those who believe that the particles of Magellan's cross have healing powers. True, some people believe that the original cross was destroyed long ago or disappeared, and the current one is just a copy made by the Spaniards after the successful colonization of the Philippines.
