Information about Daraga Church

Daraga Church

Our Lady of the Gate Parish Church is a church in Daraga, Albay, that is part of the Roman Catholic Church. People go to this church in Albay because it is on top of a hill and can see Mayon Volcano. It started to be built in 1773, after the people of Cagsawa were allowed to move their town center to avoid the disasters caused by the eruptions of Mt. Mayon and the floods of the Yawa River. While that did not happen until 1815, one year after the volcano that destroyed old Cagsawa, it did happen in that year that the new Cagsawa came into being.

Because of the disasters that happened in Cagsawa, the Daraga Church was built in a unique way. The idea behind this is that it is a gateway to heaven and a place of safety, which may be because of this. In many ways, this idea is shown. For example, the church has a retablo-style facade that shows heaven as a group of saints, Our Lady of the Gate of Heaven as its patron, and floral motifs that refer to the Garden of Eden.
 

How to get there

To get there from the city of Legazpi, take a jeepney from Daraga to Legazpi. Tell the driver to drop you off at Daraga Church.

Best time to visit

The church is open daily from 5 AM to 8 PM.