The Timelessly Beauty of Vigan
Vigan’s appeal is insanely timeless, if it is bristling with superb choices of places to explore. This vibrant city is the capital of Ilocos Sur and one of few surviving old historic cities in the Philippines. When visiting Vigan, it is highly recommended that you stay there overnight to be able to explore most of its beautiful and nostalgic spots. Be dazzled by luxuriousness of this sentimental city bursting with a tons of Kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) and ancestral houses inspired by Spanish, Mexican and Chinese architecture.
And if you’re looking for a weekend getaway, a trip that won’t require filed leaves or missed classes, Vigan is perfect. So, if you’re that type of person who likes old and beautiful palces to visit and chill, you’re in the right blog! Immerse yourself in a colonial time and travel to Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. Because we, Angeline and Jhaymie, You’re one and only Tourista Wanderers set-up some travel guides that includes a brief background about the Timelessly Beauty of Vigan and the best things to do, what to see and tips on where to stay.
What are you waiting for? Come, as we quickly take tour back at the past. Come and be part of The Timelessly Beauty of Vigan!
Vigan, the UNESCO colonial city, the capital of Ilocos Sur province located on the western coast of the island of Luzon in the Philippines features well-preserved Spanish-era architecture and every year attracts more than a million of local and foreign visitors.
Vigan is a small city charmingly combining the colonial and peaceful atmosphere you will unlikely find anywhere else in the Philippines with traditional noise and buzz of Asian cities.
There are at least three main reasons why you should consider to visit Vigan. Firstly, Vigan is the best-preserved planned Spanish colonial city in Asia and is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List; secondly, the cobblestone streets of well-restored Calle Crisologo are traffic free which is such a relief when traveling in Asia so you can focus only on sightseeing and do not worry about your life all the time;and thirdly, fresh empanadas on the night market are too good to give Vigan a miss.
In a nutshell, if you’re traveling north of Manila and want to explore the Philippines from a different perspective, Vigan is a right place where to start as the country is not only about beaches and rice terraces.
AWARDS:
- In May 2015, Vigan City was officially recognized as one of the New7Wonders Cities
- Vigan was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site on December 2, 1999
- Vigan City, 1 other town in Ilocos Sur get CROWN (Consistent Regional Outstanding Winner on Nutrition) award
- Vigan won the World Heritage Centre’s highest award for Best Practice in Sustainable Conservation & Management of World Heritage Properties in 2016
- Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities
- Vigan, Philippines recognized for best practice in World Heritage site management on Thursday, 25 October 2012
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE:
The Historic Town of Vigan (Philippines), inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1999, has been recognized as a model of best practices in World Heritage site management, at the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention. The distinction will be officially announced and a certificate presented to the Mayor of Vigan, Ms Eva Marie S. Medina, during the closing event of the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in Kyoto, Japan, on 8 November.
Vigan’s successful and sustainable management has been achieved with relatively limited resources, which should make it adaptable to sites in all countries; the local community is well integrated into many aspects of the sustainable conservation and management of the property; and a multi-faceted approach to the protection of the site has been developed.
Recognizing and rewarding best practice in World Heritage site management on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention was called for by the World Heritage Committee at its 35th session in Paris, France in 2011. Twenty-three countries participated by sending in proposals for 28 World Heritage sites, both cultural and natural. Submissions were reviewed by a selection committee mandated by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN VIGAN:
In Vigan, you can for sure follow the list of must-see places, but what we found to be the best, was to walk around and observe the way how the city was formed as it also reflects history and demography of Vigan.
It is interesting to watch how streets and architecture slowly change from the colonial, European-like to the Chinese and Filipino-like buildings in the rest of the town. So, we listed up some “bucket-lish” things that is entertaining for you to know and experience
WATCH HOW ABEL IS WOVEN
The abel is the traditional woven product of Vigan and the Ilocos region. The abel cloth is known for being a strong, colorful material. The fabric is so strong and beautiful that some families have them as heirlooms that last as long as their antique furnishings. The abel is made from yarns of cotton or sagut that are sourced from the many lands in northern Luzon that are dedicated to the growing of this plant. After the cotton is harvested, it is prepared into yarns and dyed. The different colored yarns are then arranged in a wooden handloom to create varied and unique designs. The process is intricate and labor-intensive. Weavers must master synchronizing the movements of their hands and feet to properly use the wooden handloom.
GET ON A RIVER CRUISE
Vigan’s rich history began way before Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo named it Spanish territory. The winding Mestizo River traces this history back to pre-colonial times when Vigan natives traded with the Chinese who moored their boats on the riverbanks.
Cruise-goers literally travel through history by travelling through the river. The boat takes them to various points where life-sized dioramas stand, depicting important events in Vigan’s history. A recorded voice then narrates the story.
The riverbanks are also the perfect exhibit of Vigan’s rich biodiversity. You’ll catch a glimpse of the bigaa plant from which the city supposedly takes its name.
GO TO THE POTTERY AND GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY
The place does not have any entrance fees whatsoever but you could donate any amount, it’s up to you. A resident will greett you when you enter the premises and will then show you around. The resident will first demosntrate how to make a simple earthen jar and afterwards, it was your turn! They say pottery making is therapeutic and your finished products will reflect on your mood. So now, are you up for some dirty but fun molding?
RIDE A KALESA (horse-drawn carriage)
These horse-drawn carriages are a staple in the Calle Crisologo area and are perfect for short-distance travel for a unique cultural experience.
These are the only public transportation allowed inside the old street of Calle Crisologo. It’s a great option if you don’t want to walk under the heat. They are paid every hour and can be taken to tourist spots within Vigan City.
WALK DOWN THE STORIED STREETS OF CALLE CRISOLOGO
If you want to get an idea of how cities in the Philippines or Asia overall looked like during the Spanish invasion, you won’t find a better example then the Calle Crisologo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Spanish-style buildings line the cobblestone street, and with no vehicular traffic, you will be accompanied only by fellow visitors and horse-drawn carriages. Houses along the Calle has undergone a restoration, and most of them now serve as souvenir shops, hotels or restaurants, but they still keep the middle-age atmosphere thanks to the preservation of red-tiled roofs, thick walls, ornated doors and staircases leading to rooms of high ceilings and sliding capiz shell windows. The best time to walk Calle Crisologo is before dusk when lamps lit, and the street gets savor of sentiment.
CLIMB UP THE BANTAY BELL TOWER
Bantay Bell Tower serves the nearby Saint Augustine Parish Church. It was established in 1950, making it one of the oldest in the Ilocos region, and was used during the colonial era as a watchtower against pirates, thus the name bantay or “to guard.” Climb up and enjoy an awe-inspiring view of neighboring towns!
WHERE TO EAT AT VIGAN
Vigan is a beautiful town rich in history, Tourists flock to the beautiful Calle Crisologo, looking to be transported back to Spanish colonial times.
But there’s another journey you can take in Vigan. It’s a food trip, and it’s one that you’ll certainly remember. So check out the 5 Vigan restaurants that you should eat-you-hearts-out!
CAFE LEONA
If you’ve been spending the day strolling along Calle Crisologo and find yourself in need of some nourishment, you don’t have to look far. Cafe Leona is right on that strip, and its facade blends in perfectly with the colonial era architecture all around you. Inside, however, is a modern menu that features fusion cuisine. Check out dishes like bagnet maki and pinakbet pizza!
2. IRENE’S VIGAN EMPANADA
The empanada is one of the dishes the Ilocos region is best known for, and Irene’s Vigan Empanada is regarded as the one that serves the best. You can immediately tell a Vigan empanada from other ones in the region because of its pale coloring.
Irene’s only employs 100% rice flour, and the dough for its coverings are always paper-thin in its flatness. If you want something big to bite into, try out their Jumbo Special Empanada, made with two eggs, a double portion of Vigan longanisa, and vegetables.
3. BARTECH
Worked up quite the appetite while walking Vigan’s historic streets? Head on onver to BarTech, which prides itself as being the first and only dinner buffet in Vigan. It also serves alcoholic drinks, which is fitting since BarTech takes its name from the Ilocano word “bartek”, which means “to be drunk”. Try out their Bagnet Longganisa meal served with and KBL (kamatis, bagoong, lasona)!
4. KUBOVILLE
Are you the kind of person who gets hungry in the middle of the night? There’s no need to scrounge for any leftovers in your bag or hotel fridge because Kuboville is a 24-hour restaurant that serves Ilocano and international dishes throughout the day. You can take a bite out of their steak, their vegetable spring rolls or take a sip of their tom yum soup.
5. LEILA’S CAFE
Indulge your sweet tooth at Leila’s Cafe. After all the salty and sour Vigan viands, go for dessert at the whimsical and quaint Leila’s Café on Calle Luna.
Its sky-blue interiors, bright white French windows and quirky decorations are sure to put anyone in a good mood after a hot day of running around Vigan.
Their French toastwiches are a must-try (take a bite of Edu Mansanas, a toastwich made of apple and cheese!) while their pancake sandwiches are a clever mix of flavors (try Ube Muscovado).
Here are 5 places to stay in Vigan City:
I hope we filled and inspired the “wanderers” in your soul as we made this blog about the The Timelessly Beauty of Vigan. Now, as for how to end with a bang? Well, that’s another blog post for another time.
Again we, Angeline Concepcion and Jhaymie Villanueva, You’re Tourista Wanderers are asking you to stay safe at this kind of pandemic. Sending virtual care for everyone out there.
Stay tuned for our next Blog!
MARAMING SALAMAT!
