ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: ROMANESQUE ARCHITECTURE

Manila Cathedral (Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate

Conception) is located within the walls of Intramuros. It
was originally a parish church of the diocese of Mexico,
now it is the Philippines premier temple and metropolitan
seat of the Archdiocese. It has undergone several
renovations, restorations and reconstruction due to
earthquake, fire and world war.

Below are the characteristics of

the Manila Cathedral that
resembles the Romanesque
Architecture:

THE PLAN

The present structure of Manila

Cathedral has a Latin-cross plan.

ORIENTATION

Romanesque Churches have westwerk

the two-storey tower located at
the west with an upper room located at the nave.

BUILDING MATERIALS

Marble is used as a building material in the Manila

Cathedral. The chapels are paved by highly polished Carrara
marble prefabricated in Italy. Cathedrals in Central Italy
are well known for using Marble as a building material.
 COLUMNS

Manila Cathedral used double

columns.

CAPITALS

The capitals of the columns in Manila Cathedral follow the

Corinthian order.

VAULTS

Vaulting used for the nave is cross-ribbed

vaulting.

ROSE WINDOW

Manila Cathedrals rose window

does not have colored or stained
glass.
DOOR AND WINDOW OPENING

Traditional Romanesque
churches have smaller windows
and openings because it also
serves as fortresses against
enemies. But modern
Romanesque churches dont
apply this principle nowadays
because churches now serve as
place of worship and not
fortresses. By having large
window openings, modern

Romanesque churches are no

longer dark inside because
more light come in unlike the
traditional Romanesque
churches which are dark in
the interior.

Manila Cathedral has three portals with receding arches.

The arched tympanum has a Latin inscriptions which
says tibi cordi tuo immaculato concredimus nos ac
consecramus.