Basilica of San Sebastian, Manila

Standing immaculately on the end of Claro M. Recto Street, in Quiapo, Manila, is the Basilica of San Sebastian. Known for its ornate architecture, the building is one of the many structures worth visiting in the city.

Built in 1891, the Basilica is known to be the first to accomplish many feats in the city. Apart from the immense history the building so profoundly displays, the Church is considered one of the first prefabricated buildings in the world. It is also the first structure in Asia to be built around a solid steel interior. The Basilica’s fame does not stop at just that. It is believed that Gustave Eiffel, the famous engineer behind the Eiffel tower and the strong steel interiors of the Statue of Liberty was very instrumental in building the Basilica of San Sebastian.

The motive behind the solid and unusual steel frame goes back to the series of earthquakes and misfortunes that razed the structure in the past. The first structure was built in the early 17th century but was brought down during the Chinese uprising. Further constructions on the site were brought down by a series of earthquakes in 1859, 1863, and 1880. It was then that the parish priest Estebán Martínez, approached Genaro Palacios, with a plan to make the indestructible church that would resist fire, mob and even earthquake.