Carcar is located approximately 40 km south of Cebu City. It is bounded on the north by San Fernando; on the south by Sibonga; on the west by Barili and Aloguinsan; and on the east by the Bohol Strait.
In Carcar, now a city, one of the most famous Spanish period structures is found- the Saint Catherine of Alexandria Parish Church. It is already 124 years old making it the second oldest church in Cebu.
The parish church was named after the city's patron saint, St. Catherine of Alexandria, in whose honor the people of Carcar celebrate the yearly fiesta every 25th of November.
In the year 1859 the parish priest, Fr.Antonio Maglano started the construction of the church. It took six years before it was finished. Meanwhile, Fr.Manuel Rubio Fernandez took the credit for the present design of the church.
The church is admired for its byzantine architecture. It is inspired by the Greco-Roman style,with strong muslim influence.
The church is made of masonry with one main nave and two ailes. The nave measures 68 m long, 22 m wide and 12 m high.
The main entrance has a double arch design inviting attention in the massive rectangular facade.
The twin bell towers of solid geometric pylons, act as buttresses but are integrated as part of the facade.
The Greek Orthodox style inspires the main facade of the parish church because the domes of the two bell towers are similar to the bell towers of churches of the Greek Orthodox religion.
The parish church's ceiling has beautiful symmetrical drawings and decorations.
The concrete fence surrounding the church plaza has statues of the twelve apostles standing on top of each fence column.
Like most old Spanish churches in the Philippines, the St.Catherine's Church is fronted by the city's plaza, a well-maintained place for community gatherings, celebration and other social functions.
