FollowI have a huge fascination for anything that is antiquated – antique furnishing, vintage stuffs, old houses and everything that has a touch of antiquity. So when I travel north to Ilocandia, I was full of astonishment to finally see the Heritage City of Vigan, the capital City of the Province of Ilocos Sur known to be the only heritage city in the whole Philippines.
Vigan City is one of my dream destinations in the country. It is incredibly exceptional among the other cities and towns in the Philippine because it is the country’s oldest surviving Spanish colonial city that dates back to the 16th century colonial period.
In fact, Vigan City is officially included in the UNESCO World Heritage List of Sites and Monuments. This is the list of more than 600 cultural and natural properties of exceptional universal value in entire the world. In the Philippines, it is one of the only five heritage sites found in the whole country.
As a World Heritage Site, Vigan City is the perfect example of a Spanish colonial town in Asia – eminent for its cobblestone streets and a unique architecture with the fusion of both Asian and European building design and colonial architecture. Being the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the Philippines, Vigan City preserves and restores antiquated houses and cobbled narrow streets making it the perfect colonial city to visit in the whole country.
Visiting Vigan City for me was a very remarkable experience. I was like traveling back to the old Spanish colonial days while walking around its cobbled stone streets and entering its antiquated houses. Being there, I experienced the feeling of being a true Filipino taking pride of its colorful history and rich heritage. Everything there is a source of pride. Vigan City, for me, is another national symbol of the Filipino people.
TRAVEL SERIES: Byaheng Ilocos Sur, Lakbay Ilocos Norte
- PAGUDPUD: The Charming Tropical Paradise of the North
- The Humongous Windmills of Bangui
- KAPURPURAWAN ROCKS: The Prized Gem of Burgos, Ilocos Norte
- Sunset at the Sand Dunes of Ilocos Norte
- Visiting Malacañang of the North
- Beholding the Grandeur of Paoay Church
- The Heritage City of Vigan
amazing kuya!
wala jud xia kakupas kupas!.
thats why some people who visited there says
I LOVE VIGAN.
now i know!
hehehehe
thnks!..
As in… You will really be amused by how Vigan City preserved its history and heritage. 🙂 Worth visiting. 🙂
beautiful structures in Vigan, i agree. note lang pre, 15th century, di pa dumating ang mga spaniards niyan sa pinas.
Hi Estan. 🙂
My research is based on the official website of VIGAN CITY. 🙂
“Vigan is an island, which used to be detached from the mainland by three rivers – the great Abra River, the Mestizo River and the Govantes River. It is unique among the Philippine towns because it is the country’s most extensive and only surviving historic city that dates back to the 15th century Spanish colonial period.”
(http://www.vigancity.gov.ph/history.asp)
I think it should be 16th Century. 🙂 Thanks Estan. 🙂
Vigan is one of the cities I’ve dreamed of visiting but oftentimes traded off for other locations..
I’d really want to make it this year!
Same here Francis… Luckily, did it this year. 🙂
Nice pic of the lovely lady walking by a huge window….Lan, kung moadto ka Cebu, you may also want to visit Carcar. The place is dubbed as the Heritage Town of Cebu.
Wow!. Would love that. According sa among mga lolo, didto daw gikan among roots Carcar, Cebu… Thanks Earl.
i remember my visit there in 2004 with my cousins… cellphone at analog camera lang gamit namin kaya limited ang shots… hehehe! I wonder kung panu mo nagawa yung shot na nakaupo ka sa road? buti walang dumaan na sasakyan? hehehe! cool! 🙂
Hahahaha… I think its time you come back to Vigan… Luckily, there was no vehicle passing by when i had that highway pose. Ahahaha. It has been my signature. Hahahaha.
Ang swerte mo! Rare shot and “upo shot” in front of the cathedral, anu oras ka umupo diyan? Ang clear walang sasakyan… astig!
It was around 2 pm na Ed… I was lucky na walang mga sasakyan… Dami ngang pose ginawa ko jan… Ganda ng siyudad mo Ed… Sarap balikan.
Another blockbuster post olan. I remember yoyoy’s song, “In March 16, 1521, the Philippines was discovered by Magellan,……”. Thanks to Earl’s tip about Carcar of Cebu.
BTW, this is also my dream destination matagal na matagal na. [email protected]#$%^^&&**.:-).
You should start packing na Bonz and head off Vigan.. Worh visiting kaayo.
Thanks Bonz… I’ll put that in mind, THE HERITAGE TOWN OF CARCAR CEBU…
I will try to explore CARCAR Heritage Site, this coming March 22. I will be there starting March 21 then go home March 23.
Wow! 🙂 Sige bonz, after nimu, ako na sad. 🙂 I’ll follow your trail. 🙂
I’ll be going to Ilocos in mid-May and I am sooo excited, thanks in part to your blog. Your photos are very good too. Thanks for all the helpful tips! 🙂
You’re welcome. Enjoy you Ilocos Trip. 🙂
Super ganda ng Vigan lalo na pag gabi! Reading this post makes me want to go to Ilocos again 😀
🙂 thanks visiting my blog.
Greetings! Have you ever been to Taal , Batangas Heritage Town? Find out why it is a gem in the Philippines! Add it to your 2013 bucket list! –> taal.ph