Cebu City travel guide — Cebu City tourism and travel information

Cebu City travel guide

about Cebu City

Cebu City is the capital of the province of Cebu in the Philippines and is the second most important metropolitan center in the country. The city lies on the eastern shore of the island of Cebu and is the oldest city in the country, even older than the nation's capital, Manila. Cebu is one of the main hubs of international flight into the country and is the most important center of commerce, trade, and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao parts of the country. It is because of this and other important aspects that Cebu City was given the monicker Queen City of the South.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

Cebu City is part of an informal metropolitan area which includes the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, and Talisay. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City is only a twenty-minute drive away from Cebu City. To the northeast of the city are Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion, to the west are Toledo City and Balamban, to the south are Talisay City and the town of Minglanilla. Across Mactan Strait to the east is Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City is located.

The city is in important cultural center. The city's most famous landmark is Magellan's Cross. This cross, now housed in a chapel, was supposedly planted by Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in the Philippine Islands in 1521. Cebu City is also host to the popular Sinulog festival, held every third Sunday of January in honor of Santo Niño, the city's patron saint. The University of San Carlos, the oldest institution of higher education in the country is also in the city.

Cebu City history

Cebu, or Sugbu, was already a prosperous settlement before being colonized by Spain. It had trade relations with China and the other countries of Southeast Asia.

On April 7, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan landed in Cebu. He was welcomed by Rajah Humabon, who together with his wife and about 800 natives, were baptized by the Spaniards on April 14, 1521 and are considered to be the first Filipino Christians. Ferdinand Magellan planted a cross to mark this occasion. The original cross is reputedly still encased in another wooden cross for protection, and housed in a small chapel. This site, known as Magellan's Cross, is one of the major historical landmarks of Cebu City and is located just in front of the present city hall, on Magallanes Street (Magallanes being the Spanish form of Magellan). Magellan, however, failed to successfully claim the Philippines for the crown of Spain, having been slain in neighboring Mactan Island on April 27, 1521 by its chieftain Lapu-lapu.

On April 27, 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, with Augustinian Fr. Andres de Urdaneta, landed in Cebu. Legaspi renamed the city on January 1, 1571, from San Miguel to La Villa del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus. During this six year period, Cebu City was the capital of the newly established Spanish colony.

Near cities to Cebu City

• Mandaue City travel guide 5.2 km
• Lapu travel guide 5.8 km
• Toledo City travel guide 31 km
• Calamba City travel guide 69 km
• Isabela City travel guide 100 km
• Ormoc City travel guide 110 km
• Bacolod City travel guide 110 km
• Talisay City travel guide 110 km
• Dumaguete City travel guide 130 km
• Bayawan City travel guide 160 km

Near webcams to Cebu City

• Manila webcam 570 km
• Hongkong - Victoria park webcam 1 700 km
• Victoria Harbour webcam 1 700 km
• Hong Kong webcam 1 700 km
• Hong Kong - Victoria Harbour webcam 1 700 km
• Hongkong webcam 1 700 km
• Hongkong webcam 1 700 km
• Hongkong webcam 1 700 km
• Hongkong webcam 1 700 km
• Bali webcam 2 300 km

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