Basilica of St. Martin de Tours
The
Devout Church
Generally
recognize as the largest Catholic church in Asia, the Basilica of St. Martin de
Tours is one astounding landmark that sits atop a hill right at the center of
the town. It's dominant structure, an eye catchy, with the length of 96 meters
and width of 45 meters that is noticeable for anyone.
Due
to different reasons the church had gone through several reconstructions. The
appearance of the church now as a product of the last construction done in 1856
through Fr. Marcos Anton who sought for the help of architect Luciano Oliver
who supervidere's the design and construction of the basilica.
Two
distinct features of the basilica are the façade, which will remind you of the
St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and the silver tabernacle, claimed to be the only
one of its kind in the country.
Often
called Taal Basilica, the church is among the most visited destinations of
people from various places during the Lenten season. This church is also
popular among couples who will tie the knot for it's ambiance which will you'll
feel when you enter the church.
A
giant catafalque rose right before the basilica’s altar at the point where the
nave and the transept meet. Apparently, the church’s interiors were undergoing
a minor renovation. The top of the bamboo scaffold reached to the ceiling of
the dome which was being painted. I could not imagine how difficult it was for
the painters. After all, they were inside the biggest Catholic church in the
Philippines and in the whole of Asia.
The
Basilica de San Martin de Tours, simply known as Taal Basilica, is Asia’s largest
church and it was not very difficult to see. Sitting on top of a hill, the
basilica towers over the old heritage town of Taal. It is a very dominant
structure and is visible in most parts of the town proper and even in some
parts of the neighboring town Lemery..
The
Chronicles of Taal Church
The
original town of Taal was founded by Augustinian missionaries in 1572 on the
banks of the Taal Lake (where the municipality of San Nicolas now lies). Fr.
Diego Espinar led the construction of the town’s very first church in 1575. In
almost two centuries, the church continued to improve and was rebuilt only to
be utterly destroyed in 1754 after the biggest explosion of nearby Taal
Volcano. It wasn't just the church, though, as the whole town of old Taal was
so devastated.
The
town moved to its current location, on top of a hill overlooking Balayan Bay.
In 1755, the construction of a new church was launched under Fr. Martin
Aguirre. Over several decades, new elements and features were added for the
beautification of the church. However, on September 16, 1852, tragedy struck
yet again. A massive earthquake hit the province and destroyed the church.
Four
years after the catastrophe, another church was built at the same site under
Fr. Marcos Anton, who commissioned architect Luciano Oliver to create the
design and run the construction. In 1865, almost a decade later, the newly
erected church was inaugurated despite its unfinished state. The construction
was finally completed in 1878 with the addition of its gigantic 79 ft altar
under the supervision of Fr. Agapito Aparicio.
It
was a massive church, the biggest at the time and would remain the biggest even
centuries later.
On
January 16, 1974, it was declared as one of the country’s National Shrines.
Basilica
de San Martin de Tours is a Minor Basilica, under the Archdiocese of Lipa, is
located in the town of Taal, province of
Batangas in the Philippines. Standing 88.6 meters (291 ft) long and 48 meters
(157 ft) is considered as the largest church in the country and is Asia.
Basilica
de San Martin de Tours is a Minor Basilica, under the Archdiocese of Lipa, is
located in the town of Taal, province of
Batangas in the Philippines. Standing 88.6 meters (291 ft) long and 48 meters
(157 ft) is considered as the largest church in the country and is Asia.
The
Basilica of St. Martin of Tours, designed
by the famed Spanish architect Don Luciano Oliver, stands 95 meters long
and 45 meters wide on a plateau in the heart of Taal. The adobe stone slabs
which make up the whole structure were dug up in a nearby barrio and
painstakingly carried by menfolk on an uphill climb to the church site. When
household duties were done, the women and children also helped carry sand in
their aprons and handkerchiefs from the seashore to the place of
construction. This massive structure of
stone was held together by lime and not cement. It has withstood the onslaught
of the elements within a period of more than 100 years, rebuilt in 1850′s. The
structure took shape in the period of ten (10) years.
The
façade resembles St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, with its Ionic columns. The original ceiling was painted by Giovanni
Dibella, one of two Italian artists who painted the ceiling of San Agustin
Church. The style is trompel’oeil or
“trick of the eye” which gives a 3-dimensional effect. Its tabernacle is made
of silver, the only one of its kind in the Philippines. It was declared as a
national shrine on January 16, 1974.
Originally
built in an area that is now San Nicolas town in 1575, the basilica was
destroyed in the 1754 eruption of Taal volcano.
It was built in its present location in 1755 by the Augustinian
missionaries and was damaged anew in an 1849 earthquake. Rebuilt from 1856 to
1865 during the time of the parish priest Fray Marcos Anton.
San
Martin de Tours is a baroque style basilica built in the 18th century. Covering
a little less than half a hectare of ground area, it still stands majestically
today and is considered the oldest and largest church in the Orient. A steep
and narrow passageway through its belfry grants visitors a grand view from the
church’s rooftop.
Credits to:
http://www.albertthebackpacker.com/taal-basilica-of-saint-martin-of-tours/
http://www.thepoortraveler.net/2012/04/basilica-de-san-martin-de-tours-taal-batangas/
http://taal.com.ph/index.php/places-to-visit/basilica-of-st-martin-de-tours/
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