Description of the attraction
Santa Cruz Church was built by Jesuit monks in 1608 as a parish church for Chinese immigrants in Manila, many of whom converted to the Christian faith. When the Jesuits were expelled from the Philippine Islands, the church passed into the possession of the Dominican monks. The church building was nearly destroyed twice by strong earthquakes and was severely damaged during the famous Battle of Manila in February 1945, which ended the Japanese occupation of the city for nearly three years.
When Manila was declared the capital of the Philippine archipelago in 1571, it began to turn into a kind of medieval European city with churches, palaces and town halls built in the Spanish Baroque style. The current building of the Church of Santa Cruz, renovated in 1957, has been restored to its original form. However, traces of a typically Asian architectural style can be seen in its tower. At first glance, the altar of the church seems somewhat understated, but its lighting design is magnificent.
Santa Cruz Church is located in Laxon Square (formerly Goite Square), near the famous Carriedo Fountain, built in 1882 in honor of the "greatest benefactor of the Philippines" Francisco Carriedo, who donated 10 thousand pesos for the construction of Manila's first plumbing system.
