Mirador Jesuit Villa: New Sanctuary in the City of Pines
Mirador Jesuit Villa: A Hilltop Solace
If you have been to Baguio City, you probably think that it is a place where you get to experience the cool climate up north. It is a sanctuary where you get to feel the true meaning of being in the Cordilleras. As the City is known as the country’s Summer Capital, there is one peaceful place where you can be closer to God and appreciate the beauty of nature more – the Mirador Jesuit Villa Retreat House.
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New Sanctuary in the City of Pines
Situated on top of Mirador Hill, this retreat house is a tourist spot on its own. Being also adjacent to one of the most popular tourist spot in the City, the Lourdes Grotto, the Mirador Jesuit Villa is a place where everything is serene and just quiet. As the term “Mirador” means ‘prospect point,’ is was a good vantage point for Jesuits when they Villa was once an observatory. The Mirador Jesuit Villa also became a rest house for Jesuit teachers before summer schools. After the Pacific War, the Villa was also once a scholasticate where young Jesuits from the Far East studied here. To date, the Villa is now a popular place for retreats and conferences. It is also an up-and-coming go-to place for people who just want to reflect and and think while enjoying a nice view.
Aside from the Villa / Resthouse, the property also has a number of side attractions where visitors can get to enjoy. There is a Chapel and a garden near the main entrance of the Villa (where you can get to say a little prayer upon arriving), they also have the Arashiyama Bambusetum (Bamboo Grove) and Limestone walkways where a bamboo nursery is being maintained (found at the rear entrance of the property). As the Villa is located on Mirador Hill, there is a 360-degree view of the City no matter where you stand. One of the highlights of the Villa is its Torii with a generous view of Suello Village, San Luis Village and the West Philippine Sea on a clear day. It is believed that the makeshift bell of the Japanese Gate was from an old bomb during World War II. Soon, its in-house Cafe (Cafe Iñigo) will also open its doors to the public. Its exterior walls are also patterned from the famous Rice Terrace of Ifugao.
How to get there / Other Information
Address | Mirador Hill, Baguio City |
Business days and hours | Monday – Saturday: 0800 – 1700 H
Sunday: 0900 – 1700 H |
Entrance Fee | PhP 50.00 (day tour / stroll) |
Contact Number/s | +63 74 300 4789 / +63 906 570 1634 (Ms. Fatima Castillo) |
Website | https://miradorjesuitvilla.com/ |
Social Media Account/s | Facebook: Mirador Jesuit Villa Retreat House
E-mail: miradorjesuitvilla@gmail.com |
How to get there |
By Jeepney: You can disembark at the foot of the Lourdes Grotto or at the Dominican Hill Barangay Hall. You can walk upstairs the grotto and find the Villa right after. From the Barangay Hall, you can find a gate where you can find an outpost to pay the entrance fee. Fare costs PhP 10.00 By Taxi: Just tell the taxi driver to drop you off at either Lourdes Grotto or the Dominican Hall Barangay Hall. Fare costs around PhP 70.00 – 90.00 (from the central business district) By Private Car: You can easily locate the Lourdes Grotto on your navigation app as it is accurately pinned. Note that parking space is limited. |
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