Historical places, Cebu City . . Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Sto. Nino, Cebu

Magellan's Cross is a notable landmark found at the heart of Cebu City at the Magallanes street (a street named after Ferdinand Magellan) . It is historical for it was founded by Ferdinand Magellan (Portugese: Fernão de Magalhães), which paved way for the discovery of Philippines. It is housed in a small chapel so as to preserve the place, A sign below the cross claims that the original cross is encased inside the wooden cross that is found in the center of this chapel. This is to protect the original cross from people who chipped away parts of the cross for souvenir purposes or in the belief that the cross possesses miraculous powers. Not far from the Cross is the BASILICA DEL STO. NINO, Magellan's Cross is a Christian cross planted by Portuguese and Spanish explorers as ordered by Ferdinand Magellan upon arriving in Cebu in the Philippines on April 21, 1521.




Not far from the Magellan's Cross is the Basilica del Sto. Nino, it was built exactly where the image of Sto. Nino, the sculpture of Jesus as a black holy Child was founded y Spanish conquistadors in 1565 preserved in a burned wooden box which was left behind during the 1521 Magellan expedition. The festivity of Sto. Nino is celebrated every 3rd week of first month of the year which is known as SINULOG FESTIVAL, where devotees of Sto. Nino from across the world visists the basilica for praise and worship. Cebuanos also celeberates the festival through street dancing offering it to the Black Holy Child.