Traveling in the Philippines: Vigan City
Vigan City is a popular destination in the Philippines. Its charm lies in the cultural history that it carries years after the Spanish era. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which makes it that more appealing to travelers. With its baroque architecture, a Spanish/Asian culture combination and the natural beauty will leave you in awe. It is the Ilocos Sur capital and has made the list of the New Seven Wonder Cities of the Word. There are a myriad of attractions to feast your eyes on and a lot to do.
Hidden Garden
For a plant lover, the Hidden Garden is a treasure to behold. If you are looking for landscaping ideas, this place offers a little bit of everything. The sprawling garden that started as a private project is a horticulturist’s dream. The lush greens, the sun shining in the backdrop, and all types of insect species make the Hidden Garden the ideal scenery for macro photography.
At the corner of the Hidden Gardens is a restaurant called Lilong and Lilang that is designed in the native style. You can enjoy traditional Filipino cuisines like poqui-poqui, bagnet sisig, or bagnet dipped in kamatis, bagoong, and lasona. Longanisa and fried rice are other delicacies you can savor at this restaurant.
Calle Crisologo
A visit to Vigan wouldn’t be complete without strolling down Calle Crisologo. Named after its first provincial governor, the street of Calle Crisologo is lined with cobblestones and some pre-historic buildings. Vigan was a trading city hence the remnants of Spanish and Chinese influence in Calle Crisologo. There are antique shops everywhere your turn with carvings and figurines adorning the store walls. You can find all kinds of bric-a-brac in these little shops. The best time to see the street is early in the morning when the sun is just starting to illuminate its magnificence, and there is a sense of calmness that allows you to drink in the picturesque sceneries uninterrupted.
Mindoro Beach
Philippines beaches are quite prominent and Vigan is no exception. Mindoro Beach is one destination you must include in your itinerary. Forget white and gray sand on the beach, Mindoro’s is black. Its richness in iron ore is what gives the sand that color. However, only some parts of the beach have the black sand because others were mined. Depending on the time of year, the beach is a beautiful stop to wind down a long sunny day so don’t forget to wear light clothing. During the rainy seasons, though, the waves can get very tumultuous, making it unsuitable for swimming.
Mestizo River Cruise
Nothing spruces up a vacation like a river cruise. For 45 minutes, you can learn about the history of Vigan as your sail down the Mestizo River. There are five tableaus each with an account of Vigan’s stories. Besides, a cruise down the river is an opportunity to take colorful photos of different parts of Vigan.
Plaza Salcedo
The Plaza Salcedo may not stand out during the day, but at night, it comes alive with an amazing dancing fountain show. After recent renovations, the plaza got water features that have become a huge attraction. The show is made up of lasers and lights bouncing off fountain tubes to popular music themes. Every night at seven, the dancing fountain show is on for thirty minutes, and it is just the right way to start an evening of fun in the city.
St. Augustine Church
The St. Augustine (Bantay) Church and Bell Tower are the epitome of the Spanish era. It is one of the few buildings that has maintained the architectural authenticity of that period. The Romanesque and Neo-Gothic design of the church adds to its appeal. A short distance from the church is the bell tower, once used as a watchtower by the Spaniards. This belfry has witnessed a lot of Vigan’s history, and it shows in every brick. A climb to the tower gives you brilliant scenery and photo-worthy moments.
Getting Around
In Vigan, you find what you need in a matter of minutes. There are horse-drawn carriages called kalesa that are excellent for short trips. Tricycles are also a favorite way to see the sights in Vigan. Walking is also another option, seeing as most of the attractions are short distances from each other.
Vigan no doubt has a lot to offer to tourists of all caliber from the beach-loving types to artists to shopping enthusiasts. The accessibility of the city’s attractions makes it facile for visitors to find their way around without spending too much money or getting lost halfway to their destinations.
About the Author
Joshia Mosier Josiah Mosier is a car enthusiast and loves working on his 2011 Mercedes Benz 300 C-Class. Other than that, he loves to cook and spend time with his family. In his free time, he writes about cars, especially the Mercedes-Benz, and share them with his readers.
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