Casa Bizantina, Heritage house in Bagac, Philippines
Casa Bizantina is a three-story heritage house with Byzantine ornamentation, a half-moon entrance, and arched windows on the top floor. Engaged columns and applied carvings define its facade and give it a distinctive appearance.
The building was constructed in 1890 in San Nicolas, Manila by Catalan architect Joan Josep Jose Hervas y Arizmendi. It was later relocated to Bagac where it now stands as a preserved cultural landmark.
The house displays Spanish-Moorish design language that shaped Philippine colonial architecture. Its ornaments tell of how European and local building traditions merged during that era.
The house is located within the Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar complex where several restored heritage houses and cultural exhibitions can be explored. Wear comfortable shoes since reaching the different buildings involves walking around the grounds.
It is the only surviving work by architect Arizmendi in the Philippines, making it architecturally rare and valuable. This distinction gives it special importance for those interested in building history and design.
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