Quiapo Church, Basilica of Black Nazarene, is also a stunning church within Manila.Built in the Baroque style, Quiapo Church’s façade is distinctive with twisted columns on both levels. The Corinthian columns of the second level has a third of its shaft twisted near the base, while the upper portion has a smooth surface. The topmost portion of the four-storey belfries are rimmed with balustrades and decorated with huge scrolls. The tympanum of the pediment has a pair of chalice-shaped finials, and towards the end of the raking cornice, urn-like vases mark the end of the pediment. A quatrefoil window in the centre of the pediment was sealed up in the late 1980s and replaced with a relief of the crossed keys and tiara of the pope – a symbol of its status as a minor basilica.
With its recent renovation, only the façade and the dome at the transept retained the classic design.
It is famous for it’s Black Nazarene Procession, a twice a year event where thousands of worshippers come to feast, once on 9th January and also on Good Friday at Easter time. This is because it is home to Nazarane, thought to be the miraculous image of Christ. It’s quite the event – and if you’re in Manila at this time, you definitely should attend!
