🌿 OVERVIEW
“A historic Roman Catholic parish church dedicated to Saint Vincent Ferrer, the town’s patron saint.
👀 WHAT TO SEE
In 1829, followers of Francisco Dagohoy were drawn to settle here. The Recollects ran the parish until 1898, when it passed to the secular clergy. The original tabique-and-wood church was replaced in 1933 by a neogothic-style structure, completed two decades later in 1954. The original tabique-and-wood church was replaced in 1933 by a neogothic-style structure, completed two decades later in 1954.
Some call it the “epitome of Bohol Gothic.” The structure itself is simple post-and-lintel, with gothic features.
Built by Eliseo Josol y Villamayor and Rosalio Real y Oppus, who reportedly used a picture of the Santo Domingo church in Intramuros as a model.
A historic bell from 1690, dedicated to St. John the Baptist by Bachiller Juan Alfonso Ruiz, sits in the bell tower. It came from the old Parian parish in Cebu, which was demolished in 1878–79.
🛺 HOW TO GET THERE
- Outside of Calape, accessible by bus or van along the main road of Bohol.
- Inside of Calape, accessible by tricycle.
Calape celebrates its town fiesta on May 10th in honor of Saint Vincent Ferrer — a perfect time to see the church alive with color and tradition.