Minor Basilica Of St Martin Of Tours, The Largest Catholic Church In Asia
After visiting the miraculous Monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel of Mary Mediatrix of All Grace in Lipa, our next destination is another famous church but this time in the town of Taal. It’s the Basilica of St Martin Of Tours or simply known as the Taal Basilica. It is considered to be the largest church in the Philippines and in Asia, standing 88.6 metres (291 ft) long and 48 metres (157 ft) wide. 
If you are planning to visit Batangas or the Taal town in particular, the Basilica of St Martin of Tours is definitely a place that you should not miss!
The centuries-old church offers a majestic view in and out. It is so nice to see how they managed to preserve the church and how they brought it back to its former glory after all those calamities that merely destroyed the building. 
[The facade of the church]. Interestingly,the Taal Basilica was first built in present day San Nicolas, Batangas in 1575 under the Augustinians with Saint Martin De Tour as their patron saint. However, in 1754, the church was destroyed after the eruption of Taal Volcano. It was then transferred to its present site in 1755 but was destroyed again in 1856 by an earthquake. The reconstruction was completed after two decades! (1856-1878).
[Historical Marker of Taal Basilica]. The church was made into a basilica on 8 December 1954 and was declared a national shrine on January 16, 1974 
Some old bells displayed outside the church. 
The majestic church interior is in the form of a Latin cross with wide aisles on each side containing the small retablos, carossas. Those hand painted ceilings and walls remind me of what we have seen from San Sebastian Cathedral in Lipa too. 
The two huge aisles. 
Old chandeliers. I wonder if these chandeliers were as old as the church. 
Our Lady of Lourdes image 
Here’s the stunning ceiling near the main altar. Check out those intricate details! Wow! 
The architecture of the church in general will surely leave you in awe. 
A room for baptismal font. 
Adjacent to the church is a two story building known as the Casa San Martin. It has a small museum inside and it will also give you a chance to get a nice view of the church from its balcony also also a chance to climb the belfry where you can see a good view of the entire town of Taal and the Taal Lake. Since we only have few time to spend, my mom and I decided to make a quick tour!
Feel Check the Previous churches I visited
St Thomas Aquinas Parish │ St Padre Pio National Shrine │ St Therese And The Child Of Jesus Parish │San Sebastian Cathedral │Our Lady Of Mount Carmel Parish
wow, the largest church in Asia!! this is indeed something magnificent.. since it’s built in 1575 (that makes it already 440 years old today!!! wow!!!) it has been so strong to survive through many natural disasters huh?? of course i mean the history and not the building itself since it’s destroyed and reconstructed and transferred and destroyed again and then rebuilt again.. it’s the spirit, it stay on for centuries!! amazing.. and i must say it is beautiful both inside and outside, a place worth going huh?? 🙂
indeed… I am really amazed with this church ^_^
This is one of my favorite day tour destinations. Simply magnificent and gives you the feels of walking back in a century older.
thanks Kat
WOOOOW!!! Kainggit naman at napuntahan mo na yan. I hope makapunta din ako dito. I’m a amazed with this church. Napakaganda inside and out. 🙂
thanks Ish
wow, would really love to visit the largest catholic church in asia! thanks for bringing us inside this magnificent church. great shots of the church! 🙂
thanks Jean ^_^
one of the best church na nakita at napuntahan ko… nakakamiss matagal-tagal na rin noong huling punta ko dito..
thanks Axl
I’ve been to Taal, Batangas because it’s the home town of one of my bosses before. I hope I did visit the Basilica of St. Martin before but maybe in the future.
this is indeed a great site to visit once you hit Batangas… thanks for dropping by Franc
I was thinking on how big is this Basilica Taal for it is considered as the largest Catholic Church in Asia. I happen to come across a Roman Catholic minor basilica in Yamoussoukro. It is considered as the largest Church in the world, surpassing Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican City.
oh yes.. i think you are referring to Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro and yes, it is dubbed as the largest Catholic church in the World
Saint Martin is only 88.6 meters in length while the Yamoussoukro has 195 meters
Old churches in the Philippines are more delicately designed and it’s really nice to visit all the time. Never been here but I think, great to explore around. Besides, it’s the largest Catholic church in Asia.
indeed .. I’m actually surprised that there were so many awesome churches in Batangas alone
wow, the architechtural design is really amazing. I would like to see this church in the future 🙂
thanks Jojo
Thanks for sharing the photos of this magnificent and full of history church. Learn a new thing from you today – the largest catholic church in asia. Thanks!
thanks Mun
This church looks nice and impressive. I would love to visit someday.
I heard some arguments about being the largest in Asia today but I have no idea. I saw the big and beautiful churches in Goa and Vietnam which some people claimed as biggest.
are those Catholic churches too?