Paoay Church
Paoay Church is a Roman Catholic church in Paoay, Ilocos Norte province, completed in 1710 after two decades of construction. With a massive pediment and complementary bell tower standing imposingly on an expansive plain, the church is famous for its architecture that blends baroque, gothic, Chinese, and Javanese styles. Today, it is one of the top tourist attractions in the Ilocos Region.
Its official name is the Saint Augustine Church. Already a declared National Cultural Treasure in 1973, Paoay Church was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 under the collective group “Baroque Churches of the Philippines.” It shares the distinction with San Agustin Church in Manila, Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion Church in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur province, and Santo Tomas de Villanueva Parish Church in Miagao, Iloilo province.
In 2018, the National Historical Commission launched a restoration project worth PHP 30 million, further acknowledging the church as part of the national patrimony.
Tickets and entry
As it is a church, you don’t need to pay any fees to enter, but you need to respect the solemnity of the religious site. Please remember to dress modestly and refrain from wearing revealing clothes.
Best time to visit
Paoay Church is an indoor attraction and can be visited any time of day. Because of the scheduled mass, it is the most crowded during Sunday mornings. There are usually fewer people on weekday mornings.
