Argao Church

Argao Church, formally Saint Michael the Archangel Parish Church, is a Roman Catholic heritage church in Poblacion, Argao, southeastern Cebu, Philippines. Built between 1734 and 1788 from coral stone in Baroque-Rococo style, it is one of Cebu's oldest churches. Notable for its massive coral-stone walls, ornate facade, painted ceiling, separate bell tower and convent, it is recognized as a National Historical Landmark and National Cultural Treasure and remains an active parish.

Visitors can expect a large coral-stone Baroque-Rococo church fronting the town plaza in Poblacion, Argao. The exterior features a heavily buttressed facade and a separate three-tiered bell tower. Inside is a single nave with wooden altar, religious images of St. Michael the Archangel, and ceiling paintings. The adjacent convent houses religious artifacts and serves as a museum. The complex includes a churchyard and plaza area for walking, photography and quiet observation.

Construction began in 1734 under Augustinian missionaries and was completed in 1788. Built with coral stone blocks, the church is one of the oldest in Cebu and retains its original Baroque-Rococo character. It has served as the center of the Argao parish since the Spanish colonial period and was declared a National Historical Landmark by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines.

Dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, the patron of Argao, the church remains the spiritual center for the local Catholic community. It hosts regular masses, fiestas and religious processions, particularly the feast of St. Michael on September 29, and represents Cebuano religious architecture and craftsmanship using local coral stone.