The town of Taal takes pride in having one of the largest Catholic churches in Asia, known as the Basilica Minore de San Martin de Tours, more popularly known as Taal Basilica.

Perched on a hill that overlooks Balayan Bay, the centuries-old basilica stands tall over the historic town of Taal, making it a prominent structure visible from many parts of the town proper.

Recognized as a national shrine, this massive Spanish-style Catholic church measures 96 meters in length, 45 meters in width, and 96 meters in height, constructed from adobe and coral stone.

Its facade features 24 classical columns arranged in pairs, with two rows of six stacked on top of each other. The building has 10 windows and 5 doors.

The structure is crowned with a triangular roof and gables on each side, along with one in the center. To the left, the bell tower rises high.

The basilica’s main altar reaches 24 meters in height and 10 meters in width, flanked by three Doric columns on each side of the centerpiece, which displays a statue of the crucified Jesus. Within the balustraded altar area, there are additional statues of saints and angels.

The transept of the church contains minor altars adorned with more images of saints, all illuminated by light streaming from the dome above.