Sta. Monica Church and Panay Bell

One of the oldest churches in the country, Sta. Monica Church was built on 1774.  With majestic Baroque influences defined by the use of attached coupled piers in Corinthian style, the architecture of the façade is articulated following the tenets of the Baroque movement.  It was declared a National Landmark by the National Historical Institute of the Philippines on 1997.  In the topmost tier of its five-level belfry is the biggest and most likely the heaviest Christian bell in Asia which was cast in 1878 using 70 sacks of coins.  It is about 7ft. in height and 5ft. in diameter and weighs 10.4 tons.

Christianity was established here when Fray Martin de Rada, OSA first preached the gospel to its native in 1566.  Miguel Lopez de Legaspi set camp in Panay in 1569, making the town his temporary administrative capital after leaving Cebu for lack of food.
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