Cagsawa Ruins

About this place

The Cagsawa Ruins are the remains of a Franciscan church in Daraga, Albay, whose lone belfry stands before the cone of Mayon Volcano. It is one of the best-known views in the Philippines, setting a plant-covered stone tower against the volcano that destroyed the place. The church was first built in 1587, burned by Dutch pirates in 1636 and rebuilt in 1724. On 1 February 1814 an eruption of Mayon buried the town of Cagsawa under tephra and lahar, killing an estimated 2,000 people, and survivors resettled in Daraga. Only the belfry and parts of the convent remain, as the front collapsed later. A powerful typhoon in 2006 brought mudslides to the area, but the ruins came through unharmed. You enter a green park with the ruins at its centre, where the dark stone tower wears a crown of grass with Mayon behind it on clear days. A stone path runs between old convent walls and big trees. A branch of the National Museum on site shows photographs of the eruptions along with geological and archaeological exhibits. All-terrain vehicle tours follow the lava front nearby. The ruins are 5.5 km in a straight line north-west of Legazpi and 11 km from the volcano. Cloud often covers the summit of Mayon, so early morning gives the best chance of seeing it. Mayon is an active volcano, so check the official alert level before tours close to it. It is sunny here, so bring a hat and water, and do not climb the walls.