Cebu City

Cebu City is an easygoing port city on the eastern coast of Cebu Island, one of the Visayan Islands. In 1521, Spanish explorer Magellan erected a cross at the site of what was to become Cebu City, which marked the beginning of Christianity in the Philippines. Not long after, Magellan was killed by local chiefs who disapproved the fact that he claimed the Philippines for Spain.

Cebu City is the oldest city in the Philippines and it has grown rapidly since the 1990's, a phenomenon that is often referred to as 'Ceboom'. The city has countless beautiful historic Filipino-Spanish heritage buildings, including the 1738 Fort San Pedro on Plaza Independencia, the Basilica del Santo Niño was completed in 1740, the forementioned Magellan's Cross is housed in a pavillon adjacent to the Basilica del Santo Niño, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral dates from 1565 and the Cebu Taoist Temple amongst others. Cebu City is also home to several museums, of the the Museo Sugbo and Casa Gorordo Museum are the most interesting. There are many hotels and restaurants in Cebu City. The city is 575 km southeast of Manila.