Albay has highest Catholic concentration in PH

Bicol, particularly Albay, has the highest concentration of Catholic households in the Philippines, showcasing a deep and enduring Catholic faith passed down through generations.

The province boasts numerous old churches that serve as significant sites for the traditional Visita Iglesia during Holy Week, a practice dating back to the 1560s.

Visita Iglesia involves visiting at least seven churches to honor the Blessed Sacrament and Jesus Christ's sacrifices.

One of Albay's oldest churches is the St. Gregory the Great Cathedral in Legazpi City, initially built as a small chapel in 1587 by Franciscan missionaries.

The cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of San Gregorio Magno, was part of the early Spanish mission in Albay, then called Visita Cagsaua, which introduced Catholicism to the region.