Vigan

Old world charm in the North

Overview

Vigan’s cobblestoned streets are preserved in a colonial era time warp. European architecture and traditional Filipino buildings fused with oriental designs take center stage. A historic city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, this northern town promises to evoke nostalgia and longing for a gentler, less frenetic world.

  • Stay at Hotel Luna, the first and only museum hotel in the country.
  • Tour the city of Vigan, known for its well-preserved stone houses made from bricks and filled with period pieces.
  • Sample famous Ilocano delicacies such as longaniza (sausage), empanada (meat pie) and bagnet (deep fried crispy pork crackling).
  • Visit the National Museum, a place that used to be the Ilocos Sur provincial jail and birthplace of a past Philippine president.
  • Witness how the locals do inabel weaving, a Vigan traditional craft
  • Other places of interest: Bantay Church and Bell Tower, Plaza Salcedo, Cathedral of St. Paul, Plaza Burgos and Crisologo Museum.
  • A couple of hours from Vigan is the St. Augustine Church in Paoay, a baroque church and UNESCO World Heritage Site that was built to withstand earthquakes and is a sight to behold.
  • Ride on horse-drawn carriages or stroll along Calle Crisologo, a street lined with pre-war Spanish homes.
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