Magellan's Cross is Christian cross made up of wood erected by Ferdinand Magellan (a Portuguese explorer)
during his exploration in Cebu, Philippines on April 21, 1521. This
cross can be found inside an octagonal chapel in front of Cebu City Hall
and beside Basilica Minore del Santo Niño. This one of the most
prominent tourist spot in Cebu and Philippines. But, the cross that you
can see today is a tindalo wood where the splinters of the
original Magellan's Cross were encased. The wood of the original cross
were deteriorated because the people were chipping some parts and making
it as a souvenir in the belief that it's miraculous.
The chapel of this cross is made from stone and was built in 1841. Then
the new cross encasing the splinters of the old cross was established
in 1845. This exact location was the place where Cebu's Rajah Humabon,
his wife Juana and 800 followers were baptized on April 14, 1521 and
that was the very first Catholic mass in the Philippines. The ceiling
of the chapel shows how Magellan instructed the local laborers building
this structure. It also contains an image on how the people of Cebu was
converted into Christianity. You may also visit these sites nearby: Casa Gorordo Museum, Heritage of Cebu Monument, and Colon Street.
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