Cabatuan Church

Cabatuan Church, formally San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish Church, is a Roman Catholic church in Cabatuan, Iloilo, Philippines. Built in 1834 in Tuscan style of baked brick, it is known as the only existing church in the Philippines with three facades and twin belfries. Declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2000, it is notable for its massive structure, Byzantine-influenced interiors and historical role as the center of the town founded in 1732.

Visitors can expect a large red-brick Tuscan-style church fronting the town plaza with three symmetrical facades, twin bell towers, and a spacious interior with arched ceilings, religious statues and murals. The surrounding complex includes a convent and open plaza area. Visitors can explore the exterior facades, interior nave, altar and religious artworks, and observe ongoing religious services in an active parish setting.

The parish was established in 1732. The present church was built from 1833 to 1834 under Fr. Antonio Porras using bricks and stone, and is considered a prime example of Tuscan Earthquake Baroque architecture. It was heavily damaged by the 1948 Lady Caycay earthquake that destroyed its pediment and belfries, and was subsequently restored. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure in 2000 by the National Museum of the Philippines.

Dedicated to San Nicolas de Tolentino, the church serves as the spiritual center of Cabatuan and a prominent example of Spanish colonial religious architecture in Iloilo. It is an active Roman Catholic parish under the Archdiocese of Jaro and a significant heritage landmark reflecting the town's colonial history and religious traditions.