Description of the attraction
In the town of Santa Maria in the Luzon province of Ilocos Sur, there is the stunning Church of Santa Maria, attracting tens of thousands of believers and tourists. This is not only a reminder of the four centuries of Spanish rule in these lands, but also a unique building famous for its architecture and design. Compared to other churches in the region, Santa Maria is smaller but more luxuriant. It was built on top of a hill, and served as a kind of observation point, later becoming a real religious center.
After the complete conquest of the province of Ilocos by the Spaniards in the 17th century, the population of Santa Maria increased significantly. Evangelical congregations were established everywhere, making the town a religious and commercial center. According to legend, before the Church of Santa Maria was built on its current site, the Virgin Mary was worshiped in the town of Bulala. The holy image all the time disappeared from its throne, and later it was found in the same place - on the guava tree that grew where the chapel of the Church of Santa Maria stands today. This story was believed by many people, and the legend contributed to the construction of the church. In 1810, a bell tower was added to it, which attracts attention not only for its unusual location, but also for its proportions and hexagonal shape.
There is a monastery right in front of the church, which partially covers the facade of the temple. It can be accessed directly from the church over a bridge built over a once deep moat. A large staircase of three flights leads to the doors of the church, the other two are located behind the building - one leads to the cemetery, the other offers a panoramic view of the plain and the city of Santa Maria.
