On your next trip to The Philippines, you may want to consider exploring one of the beautiful castles that these island nations are known for.
While castles are much more common in Europe, they seem to be a rarity in the Philippines.
Many travelers, and even some locals, consider Malacañang Palace to be the only legitimate castle in the Philippines.
The truth is that many structures feature the architectural design and size of a true palace.
For this reason, these buildings have made it onto our list today.
Many of the buildings feature very dramatic architecture and beautiful designs.
Some are much larger while others are smaller. Some are resorts and others serve as private residences.
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5 Most Beautiful Castles in The Philippines
As previously mentioned, there aren’t many structures that may be labeled as castles or palaces in the Philippines.
We have constructed a list of the top five structures that are magnificent enough to be labeled a castle or palace.
1. The Ruins in Talisay City, Bacolod
The Ruins in Talisay City, Bacolod.
The home was constructed in the 1900s and was the residence of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Maria Braga Lacson.
The castle was inspired by Italian architecture.
Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson was a wealthy sugar businessman who owned a sugar plantation in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.
He had the castle constructed on the 440-hectare sugar plantation after his Portuguese-born wife, Maria Braga Lacson, passed away after giving birth to their 8th child.
It was so magnificent and breathtakingly beautiful that it earned the nickname “The Taj Mahal of Negros.”
During WWII, the castle was burned down by Filipino guerillas in an attempt to prevent the invading Japanese forces from seizing it and using it as their military headquarters.
It was meant to burn to the ground but large portions of the structure remained intact, even after being burned.
Today, it belongs to the great-grandchildren of Don Mariano Ledesma Lacson and Cora Maria Osorio Rosa-Braga.
The castle was preserved in its burned state and is open to the public for tours at specific times.
2. Tai Castle
Tai Castle is located in Taal, Tagaytay, in the Philippines.
The castle goes by another name: Tagaytay Castle House.
The house was designed in medieval-style architecture and allegedly cost approximately P30 million to construct.
Inside the home, the dining room has been designed to resemble a banquet hall.
A grand staircase leads to the second floor, covered by a red carpet.
The opulence of the castle is as obvious on the outside as it is on the inside.
There are many modern amenities to make guests and visitors feel at home and enjoy the finer things in life.
Inside, much of the decor is gold-plated.
Despite its tribute to medieval architecture, the home boasts some modern features inside, such as air conditioning.
There are four bedrooms, a master bedroom, a library, a family room, and a rooftop swimming pool.
Up until approximately 2018, the home could be rented out by the public for private events or as a residence.
However, according to a 2018 post on their Facebook Page, the castle is no longer open to the public for commercial use.
There haven’t been any updates on whether there have been any changes to this statement.
The post goes on to explain that another castle will be built near the current castle with similar features but more grand in size.
3. Shrine of Simala
The Shrine of Simala is essentially a Roman Catholic pilgrimage church and the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist.
It is located in the Marian Hills, Lindogon, Simala, Sibonga, and Cebu.
The structure was constructed in 1998 by the Marian Monks from Pampanga and is most widely known for the miraculous events that have occurred there.
For example, one such event which has made the church extremely well-known and popular amongst locals is the shedding of a tear in Mother Mary’s image.
Many Catholics and devotees visit the church throughout the year in hopes of having their devotion and petitions answered.
There are, of course, several rules to adhere to when visiting the site.
One of the most important rules is to be mindful of the dress code and adhere to the rules related to it.
There is a very large influx of tourists each season and, as such, another rule is that no loud noises or noisemaking is permitted on the church grounds.
Furthermore, visitors are advised not to take pictures with a flash.
While this may not be a castle in the traditional sense, its magnitude in size and breathtaking beauty are what qualify it to be on our list.
Catholic devotees may visit the site for mass at various times throughout the week.
Visitors who come to the Shrine to offer petitions or prayers can purchase a candle.
There are different colors and each color serves a specific purpose.
For example, the yellow candle resembles peace, courage, and hope, while the red candle resembles love, family, unity, friendship, and devotion.
There are different colors including:
- White
- Violet
- Pink
- Orange
- Gray
- Brown
- Cream
- Gold
- Green
- Black
- Brown
4. Fantasy World
Fantasy World is located in Lemery, Batangas, Philippines.
It isn’t a castle in the true sense, but its design and architecture are what qualify it to make it onto our list.
It is a Bavarian-inspired abandoned castle set in an unfinished theme park.
The architecture resembles that of a medieval castle. The total size of the park is equal to approximately 30 hectares.
The theme park would have been a version of Disney World or at least a world-class resort, but as of the current date, it remains unfinished and the park is temporarily closed.
There are various rides in the park but they are not operational.
Although the theme park was never completed, the site remains an important landmark in the Batangas area.
It is believed that the project was abandoned due to financial problems by the owner.
The site has been used in various local movies.
The castle is located approximately 45 minutes away from Sky Ranch Tagaytay Picnic Grove.
Even though the park is non-operational, many tourists still flock here to take pictures for Instagram and explore the grounds.
Some even go as far as renting or making fairytale costumes to take pictures at the abandoned theme park.
There isn’t a lot to do in the park other than taking pictures and walking around.
You could explore the castle buildings that makeup Fantasy World and even climb to the top of the main tower via a staircase.
At the top of the highest tower, you have an unrestricted 360-degree view of the entire castle grounds.
5. Tropicana Castle in Puerto Galera
Tropicana Castle is located in the Sabang part of Puerto Galera.
This is a castle resort hotel that is open to the public and welcomes guests from all four corners of the world annually.
The castle is situated on a hilltop and overlooks the beautiful Sabang Beach.
The area is a diverse paradise and divers from all over the globe come here to explore the beautiful clear waters.
Guests are offered the experience of living like a king and queen in this resort hotel and experiencing everything this part of The Philippines has to offer.
The castle has a very romantic history, starting with the couple who envisioned its construction long before construction started.
The castle is one of the most majestic structures in the Philippines.
The architecture is a mixture of different styles but there seems to be a strong resemblance between Italian and medieval-style architecture.
This resort was the dream of an Austrian man and his Filipino wife.
After traveling through various countries in east Asia, the owner finally settled in the Philippines, where he met his wife.
Together, the pair settled in Puerto Galera in 1985 and this is where their first child was born.
Together they purchased a small piece of land on a hilltop and started their restaurant.
Over the next 20 years, they would purchase a larger piece of land on the hilltop and start construction on their dream resort.
Over the years, as tourism in the area started to grow, so did the popularity and size of the castle.
Many additions were made and the castle stands proud on the hilltop today, welcoming guests from all over the world to the white sandy beaches which it overlooks.
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- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a king and queen in the Philippines?
No, The Philippines is a unitary presidential constitutional republic.
The president of The Philippines is both the head of state as well as the head of government.
What is the most important feature of a castle?
The most important feature of castles was the walls that surrounded the castle.
These walls served as a means to deter attackers from gaining entry into the castle.
At the top of the walls were wall walks where defenders of the castle could move up and down and stop attackers from trying to scale the castle walls.
Why are castles no longer built?
Castles were originally built to stand as a defense force against enemy attacks.
However, during the 13th century, gunpowder was developed and castles were no longer effective as a defensive force.
Are there royal families in The Philippines?
Yes, although The Philippines is a democracy, the government has acknowledged the existence of other monarchies operating within the country such as the Muslim monarchy.
I think it’s interesting to see how different cultures and architectural styles have influenced the design of these castles in The Philippines.
Visiting the castles in The Philippines is a great way to experience some of its unique culture and architecture.
The Philippines may not have many castles, but the ones that do exist, like The Ruins in Talisay City and Tropicana Castle in Puerto Galera, are truly magnificent and worth a visit.