Puerto Princesa City Tour: Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral (The Cathedral)

What is popularly known to tourists or visitors coming to Puerto Princesa City as “The Cathedral” is the imposing baby blue colored Immaculate Concepcion of Mary Cathedral. The Cathedral has been known as the center of spiritual refuge of the city since the time of World War II.

The Cathedral is somewhat reminiscent of medieval European architecture.  If you’re in front of the main entrance, the façade has two lofty towers on both sides with triangular pyramidal gothic spires similar to some Italian or German cathedrals, a simpler version of the spires of Ulm Minster in Germany – of sort.  

According to history, in 1872, the Spanish colonizers founded a settlement, leveled a portion of a hill where a small chapel was built in the same location where the present cathedral is standing and proclaimed the Immaculate Conception of Mary as the patroness of Puerto Princesa.   However, the building of the present structure was started in 1961. 

The color of the church may have been chosen to match the color of the image of the Marian patroness.

Statue of an angel holding a holy water bowl, inside the cathedral.

The interior adorned with vertical rectangular lamps.

The Cathedral is located along the main thoroughfare – Rizal Avenue - in Barangay Liwanag, not far from the port area.  The annual feast if held from November 28 to December 8.

How to get there:

One can easily reach The Cathedral by taking a shared tricycle for 8 to 10 pesos depending on the starting location.  But if you happen to be staying around the town central, it’s an easy walking distance.  The historic Plaza Cuartel is just a stone throw away.  The Cathedral is one of the stops in Puerto Princesa’s "City Tour".  

Entry Free.