Cagsawa Ruins

Cagsawa Ruins is an archaeological site in the province of Albay, Philippines, where a stone bell tower rises before the cone of Mayon Volcano. The surrounding complex includes a paved plaza, low walls of weathered masonry, and open grassy areas extending toward the base of the tower.

Franciscan friars built the church in 1724 in a village near the volcano. The eruption of 1814 buried the settlement under ash and rock, killing more than 1,200 people who had sought shelter inside the church.

The site takes its name from the Bicol term rooted in casauá, referring to a local plant. People visit during festivals and memorial gatherings to honor the link between faith and natural forces in the region.

Access follows a level path from the entrance to the tower, suitable for wheelchairs. A small museum on the grounds displays photographs of eruption history and geological exhibits without requiring a separate tour.

The tower rises only halfway out of the hardened lava flow, with the rest buried under several meters of volcanic material. The structure originally stood twice as tall and served as a landmark for sailors along the coast of Bicol.