With a land area of just over 10km², it is a city where centuries of maritime legacy, colonial architecture, and a strong sense of patriotism converge.
Originally known as Cavite Puerto, the city served as the main seaport of Manila during the Spanish era. It played a pivotal role in the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, earning the nickname Ciudad de Oro Macizo (“City of Solid Gold”).
Fort San Felipe and the ruins of Porta Vaga Gate echo its fortified past. The city is home to the venerated image of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad de Porta Vaga, recognized as the oldest Marian painting in the country and designated as a National Cultural Treasure.
The Regada Water Festival in June celebrates St. John the Baptist with lively street activities and water festivities. September 7 marks Cavite City Day, commemorating its cityhood in 1940.
Cavite City is among the few locations where Chavacano, a Spanish-based creole language, was once widely spoken. It is also the birthplace of Julián Felipe, the composer of the Philippine National Anthem.
Surrounded by Bacoor and Cañacao Bays, the city shares its only land border with Noveleta. Sangley Point, once a U.S. naval base, is now a domestic airport with plans for international expansion.
While Cavite City may be modest in size, its legacy looms large—standing as an enduring symbol of the Philippines’ maritime, religious, and revolutionary spirit.
