Historical Places
There are many historical sites in Cebu that are worth-visiting and are very accessible. Although your tour guide can take you to these places, it would be more exciting and adventurous to discover the places yourself. The Philippines was colonized by the Spaniards for more than three and a half centuries, so you can still see traces of Spanish influence in different parts of Cebu.
Old Mactan bridge
For instance, Carcar has well-preserved Spanish houses owned by the rich, and the good thing is that some of these homes are open to the public. It is truly amazing when you enter these houses. It is like being transported to the Spanish period because most of the things in these houses like the dining sets, the sofas, the tables, the beds, and the cabinets (which are all in good condition) have traces of Spanish influence.
Sto. Niño Church
In many of the towns you go, you will see old churches constructed during the Spanish period yet have withstood the test of time. Some of the famous churches in Cebu are the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño (where thousands of people flock during the feast of the Sto. Niño), the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral, the Pardo Church, the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, and many others.
You can see some of the pictures by visiting this website:
http://www.ngkhai.net/cebupics/thumbnails.php?album=3
A good way of seeing historic places in Cebu would be to go to Colon Street – the oldest street in the Philippines. From there, you can ask directions and get to see some famous historical landmarks like Fort San Pedro, Plaza Independencia, and Magellan’s Cross. Other good places to see are the Malacañang of the South, the Parian Area, and the Sto. Niño Church. Other must-see places in Cebu are as follows:
- The old and new Mactan bridges – they are the links between Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City
- Case Gorordo – it gives us a glimpse of life during 1860-1920
- The University of San Carlos – it is founded on the oldest school in the Philippines, the Colegio de San Ildefonso
- Capitol Building – it is a beautiful edifice patterned after the White House