Cebu, PhilippinesThe largest marine theme park in the Philippines with walk-through tunnels, a jellyfish gallery, dolphin shows, manta ray feeding, and touch pools. An excellent rainy-day activity in Cebu and a great introduction to the marine biodiversity of the Philippine Sea for travelers who can't dive.
Price range
$$
Category
🏛️ Culture
City
Cebu
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The oldest Catholic church in the Philippines, dating to 1565, housing the miraculous Santo Nino (Holy Child Jesus) statue that Ferdinand Magellan gave to Queen Juana of Cebu in 1521. The annual Sinulog Festival in January draws four million pilgrims in the largest religious celebration in Southeast Asia.
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The oldest and smallest fort in the Philippines, built by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in 1565 as the first Spanish settlement in Asia. The triangular bastion at the Cebu waterfront has served as a military fort, rebel defense, revolutionary army headquarters, and zoo before becoming a museum and park.
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A wooden cross planted by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 when he baptized Cebu's first Filipino Christians, preserved inside a domed chapel beside the Basilica. The tarpaulin ceiling painting depicts the baptism of Rajah Humabon and is one of the most significant Christian historical sites in Asia.