Magellans Cross

Magellan's Cross is a historical site in Cebu.

It is a wooden cross said to have been planted by explorer Ferdinand Magellan, marking his arrival and the arrival of the Christian religion in the Philippines.

The 486-year-old cross is now housed inside a small chapel or kiosk located across from the Cebu City Hall along Magellanes Street, beside the Basilica Minore del Santo Niño.

The original cross brought by Magellan is encased in a tindalo wood cross that stands at the center of the chapel.

This was done to protect the original cross from devotees who, believing the cross to be miraculous, started chipping off pieces of it.

Some people, however, believe that the original cross had been destroyed or had disappeared after Magellan's death, and the cross is a replica that was planted there by the Spaniards after they successfully colonized the Philippines.

Magellan's Cross is a symbol of Cebu City and the chapel's image can be found in its city seal.

It is also seen as the symbol of Roman Catholicism and a tourist attraction in the Philippines.