Vigan City - The Heritage City of the North

Vigan City is a place where you can enjoy! Calm and relaxation in the midst of urban life living. I had gone to Vigan City quite many times already during my high school and college field trips but it was only in a split of minutes walk around to the city proper, had gone to pagburnayan “pottery making site” and the Museum which were the destinations of the said trip. But I tell you there’s a lot more about Vigan City waiting to be discovered and to experience. A visit to Vigan brings a crashed back to the history of our country during the pre and Spanish colonialism.

Being considered as a local tourist in my home country, I find enjoyment just walking around the city premises, from the Ilocos Sur Provincial Capitol, to the plaza, to the church and to the World Renowned Heritage of the North where you can see Spanish architectural designs and styles of the houses, very interesting to know. It will made you think how would they do that during that era, what’s their tools and etc.

Establishments are all over the place wherein designed and constructed with pre-Spanish architectures copied to the olden buildings as to preserve its ambience, uniqueness and calmness of the place.

Food lovers can enjoy their appetite through fast food chains, and of course the sidewalks which offers finger foods, and native delicacies such as cascaron and among others, and anyone could find interesting to buy food in the public market. One must taste the Vigan longganisa, “bagnet”, empanada, and okuy-okuy which are truly delicious and it makes you want to buy some more again and that could entice you to go back to the place again.

Urban life is yet so simple not so glamorous not superficial. People are very hospitable that everyone you meet smiles back at you - simple gestures to welcome you to their place. I am truly grateful that they have a humorous characteristic as well as warm hospitality.

Souvenir shops tribe like mushrooms along the heritage site of Vigan where anyone could find bamboo baskets, loom weaved clothes, native delicacies also, souvenir t-shirts, mugs, key chains and among other that suite your personalities as well as the person you may want to give a present.

Roaming around to Vigan City makes you wanna ride to an old fashioned “kalesa” (wagon driven by a horse) and eventually tour you around Vigan and neighboring towns such as Bantay, San Vicente and among others.

Popular destination that both local and foreign tourist are of the pottery places, loom weaving , the Heritage site which was declared by the UNESCO in the year 1999, the houses with frills and eaves are greatly crafted with the hands of our forefathers, the Mindoro Beach of Vigan, the Baluarte- an animal zoo owned by Ex-Governor Chavit Singson and along the neighboring town would be the Bantay Church.

****

The Binatbatan Festival is one of the most awaited festival in Ilocos Sur as well as in the whole country. It is a weeklong festival features local culture and arts. It includes streetdancing and showdown competition among participants. The Festival highlights the annual Viva Vigan Festival of Arts, where most local and foreigners flock in the World Heritage City.

****

From traditional antique setups, beach ambiance, to modern interiors, there is just a wide range of hotels and inns to choose from.

CASA TEOFILA LODGE

Pantay Daya, Vigan City

Contact Person: Fely Chan

( 722-2547)

CORDILLERA INN

Mena Crisologo St., Vigan City

Contact Person: Rose Reclusado

(722-2727 / 2739)

EL JULIANA HOTEL

Liberation cor. Quirino Blvds., Vigan City