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| ARK OF VIGAN CITY ILOCOS SUR |
Vigan is a city in the Philippines, on the west coast of Luzon island. It's known for its preserved Spanish colonial and Asian architecture. Calle Crisologo dominates the Mestizo district, with its cobblestone streets, malecón, horse-drawn carriages and rustic mansions. Near the white baroque Vigan Cathedral are Plaza Salcedo, offering fountain light shows, and Plaza Burgos, known for its street-food stalls.
Took us 8-10 hours motorcycle drive from Manila to this place. The road trip going up north is an experience as you witness vast lands welcomes you on you first 3-4hours on the road but can be tiresome seeing fleeting images as our motorcycle passes by for the next 3-4hours. After countless stopovers for restroom and meals, we then arrived in Vigan.
We were tired and weary from the travel, but the sight of the heritage houses, the gallop of the horses’ shoes against the cobblestone road, the smell of garlic and townfolks walking calmly along the streets brushed away our gnarly feeling and we begin to feel giddy inside.
Incredibly exceptional among other cities here in The Philippines as compared to other towns, because of the town’s preservation of old Vigan.
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| Kalesa |
One of the oldest towns in the Philippines, Vigan is a Spanish-colonial fairy tale of Molave wood mansions, cobblestone pavements and clattering horse-drawn carriages or as we call it Kalesa.
Established in the 16th century, Vigan is the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and from Europe, resulting in a culture and town scape that have no parallel anywhere in East and South-East Asia.
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| VIGAN CITY OF THE MOST POPULAR STORE SOUVENIRS IN CITY |
The truth about this Unesco World Heritage site is a little more complicated. Vigan is the finest surviving example of a Spanish colonial town in Asia, but outside Crisologo and a few surrounding blocks, it’s a noisy Filipino town as well.
You may find it easier to appreciate the places where history is alive, where you can smell the aroma of freshly baked empanadas wafting past antique shops, pottery collectives, and capiz-shell windows.
Authenticity
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| VIGAN SHIRTS |
Vigan has maintained its authenticity in its grid historic urban layout and use of open spaces. Local conduct commerce at the lower floors and uses the upper levels as their residences. The consciousness of the need to preserve authenticity has significantly increased since the site was inscribed. protection practices that have developed organically over the last three centuries are now being re-introduced, making use of a substantial reserve of traditional building crafts that have survived.
The city is approximately 406-410KM or 252.277 miles from Manila. You may opt to take your own car or motorcycle.
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