Cebu City
is the capital of the province of Cebu and is the second most important metropolitan center in the country. The city lies on the eastern shore of the island of Cebu and is one of the oldest cities in the country, even older than Manila, the capital. Cebu is one of the main hubs of international flight into the country and is the most important center of commerce, trade, and industry in the Visayas and Mindanao parts. It is because of this and other important aspects that Cebu City was given the monicker "Queen City of the South."

BRIEF PROFILE
Land Area:	5,163.50 km²
Population:	866,171 (2010)
Barangays:	80

Other Information__________________________

Cebu City is part of an informal metropolitan area which includes the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu. The Mactan-Cebu International Airport, located in Lapu-Lapu City is only a ten-minute drive away from Cebu City.

To the east of the city is Mandaue City and the town of Consolacion, to the west are the cities of Toledo and Talisay and the town of Minglanilla, to the north are Danao City and the town of Balamban and to the northeast is the town of Compostela. Across Mactan Strait is Mactan Island where Lapu-Lapu City is located.

The city is in important cultural center. The city's most famous landmark is Magellan's Cross. This cross, now housed in a chapel, was supposedly planted by Ferdinand Magellan when he arrived in the Philippine Islands in 1521. Cebu City is also host to the popular Sinulog festival, held every January in honor of Santo Niño, the city's patron saint. The University of San Carlos, the oldest institution of higher education in the country is also in the city.